YUMA, Ariz.-
“I’m not a super religious man, but I believe God puts you in places for a reason, and I guess he put me there for a reason and I had to discover what it was”, said Mr. Carrillo as he describes his position at Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity has been building homes in Yuma for almost 19 years and through their work, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing.
Executive Director Frank Carrillo tells News 11 about how much the program impacts Yuma County families.
”The unemployment in Yuma County can be in the high twenties to the low thirties, when the agriculture season’s not here. So you can say that is the majority population that we attempt to help.” Carrillo says.
Habitat has everything a needy family would require like furniture, supplies and appliances. And alongside a somewhat lengthy application process, families are not only suiting with a home, but informed about the responsibility that comes with home ownership.
“We put together family selection committee, which are members of the community. Once the selection committee finds the candidates that are best suited for our homes, then they are sent up as a recommendation to our board. Then we send the families off to financial counseling, so we begin to teach them some of the skills that are going to be required to be a homeowner, so they can be successful” Mr. Carrillo explains.
Once complete the building begins…Frank took us to the habitat village for their latest project and where all the homes are built.
Mr. Carrillo and the community members that contribute to these projects know they are making a difference when he sees how it affects the children who need this the most. Carrillo concludes,
“But when they’re there, and they’re being told this is your room, than it really sinks in. And to have they come up to you and have them say something to the effect of ‘’Thank you, I am 14 years old and I’ve never had a room to myself, now I can have some privacy.” That makes a difference, and to see the smile of the parents as they look at their children, because that’s their future, that’s what gratifying to me.”
http://yumahabitat.org/
https://www.facebook.com/HFHYuma