More Family Success Stories Contact: Homeowner Relations (650) 568-7322 housinginterest @peninsulahabitat.org Home Family Success Stories The Garibay Family Redwood City Family Uses Habitat Home as Stepping Stone Ricardo Garibay sat on the edge of the cushy, brown leather couch. Across the room, a telenovela played on the television. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds casting rays of light around the family room. Everywhere you looked there were signs of a well lived-in home filled with children - bikes, toys and pictures hanging on the walls. It's the kind of home Ricardo and his family used to only dream about owning until a flyer turned their dreams into reality. Four years ago, Ricardo and his wife, Noemy, were sharing a room with their three children - Ricky, Elle and Niomi. "We lived in one, decent sized room in Redwood City," he said. "The kids were small then, but it was still crowded. We didn't have any privacy, and Noemy and I never had any time alone." As the children grew, Ricardo and Noemy knew the family couldn't continue to live in one room. They needed more space, but couldn't afford to purchase a home on the Peninsula. They started looking at homes in Merced, Stockton and Tracy where prices were more within their reach. "We didn't want to leave the area, but we couldn't live in one room for the rest of our lives," Ricardo said. Then one day at work, a friend handed Ricardo a flyer. Peninsula Habitat for Humanity had homes available for purchase in Redwood City, and was hosting an informational meeting at a local community center. "When I saw the flyer, I thought it wouldn't hurt to attend the meeting," he said. "I didn't think we'd be able to get a Habitat house, but like the lottery, you can't win if you don't buy a ticket. So, we went to the meeting." At the meeting, the Garibay's learned about how to qualify for a Habitat home and picked up an application. "It sounded like a good opportunity," Ricardo said. "We filled out the application, and sure enough, received a call saying we'd qualified for a home." The Garibay's moved into a three-bedroom town home in Habitat's 36-unit Rolison Road community, and in November, they'll celebrate their fourth anniversary as homeowners. "The neighborhood is nice," Ricardo said. "The kids can go outside to play and we don't have to worry about them getting hit by cars. We can be in the house, watching them through the windows, and trust that they'll be safe." In addition to safety, the Garibays also treasure the extra space in their home. For them, more space means more freedom and a happier family. With their own bedrooms, Ricky and Elle now have the freedom to study, watch television, or play music without disturbing the rest of the family. Ricardo can stay up late watching television or working on the computer, and Noemy has the option to go upstairs earlier to read or go to sleep. "Ricky and Elle are doing really well in school," Ricardo said. "I think it's because they have their own rooms, and the space and freedom they need to study." Ricardo says his family will be forever grateful for their home. "Owning a home in the Bay Area is quite an accomplishment," he said. "If it weren't for Habitat, we'd probably be paying more to rent an apartment than what we're paying for our house. With low mortgage payments, we can start saving money for my kids to go to college." To read more about Habitat families, please click here.