In the heart of Arizona, a single mother and her daughters have been embraced by the warmth of a community's generosity just as the holiday season unfolds. Sandra Cervantes, the hardworking mom who logs more than 50 hours each week, and her teenage daughters have been struggling amid an unforgiving housing crisis. Their fortunes took a turn for the better when they were chosen to receive a brand-new home, courtesy of a partnership between the Arizona Lottery and Habitat for Humanity.
"Being in a safer area is really meaningful," Sandra Servantes told ABC15. The family's new abode is part of the 25-home Alta Vista Ranch community, which is being developed through the prudent use of COVID-era relief funds from 2021.
Before being approved for the home, the Cervantes family weathered high rental prices in the valley. "We actually went to look at, like, different townhouses and by central area really expensive, like $2,500 just for, like a three-bedroom townhouse and still no backyard," Cervantes said in an interview with 12 News. The Habitat for Humanity Home Ownership program appeared as a lifeline for the family, who'll commit hundreds of hours of sweat equity to build their new home.
Not only does the house represent a new beginning, but it also comes with the relief of a manageable financial plan. "No interest," shared Jason Barlow, President and CEO for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. "And because we're the bank we can stretch the payments so that it meets your pay, you know, what you earn. So we don't want you to pay too much for housing," as stated by 12News. The partnership with the Arizona Lottery underpins the construction, sponsoring $100,000 for the 'sticks and bricks' of the Cervantes home.
