More Family Success Stories Contact: Homeowner Relations (650) 568-7322 housinginterest @peninsulahabitat.org Home Family Success Stories The Arias Family Defying the Expensive Bay Area Housing Market To Call It Home After sisters, brothers and practically every other extended family member moved away from the Bay Area to find affordable housing elsewhere, Edith and Tito Arias began to lose faith in their ability to buy a home. The housing market grew more expensive as they scoured the area for a house big enough to fit their family and their dreams. Eleven years ago, Edith and Tito made one of the best decisions of their life - signing up for the Peninsula Habitat mailing list. As information on home ownership opportunities hit their Daly City and South San Francisco doorsteps, they kept hoping for a time when they could stop renting and buy their own place. This hope was challenged each day with the cost of living growing as fast as their children. Factors such as local schools, jobs and the special needs of their children began to limit their ability to relocate and seek greater opportunities as a family. Today, Tito and Edith are homeowners, one of four new families at Peninsula Habitat's Commercial Avenue development in South San Francisco. The family of five has endured countless obstacles and setbacks to reach this point in their lives; each challenge making the family stronger as a whole. They have defied the expensive Bay Area housing market and can now truly call the Bay Area their home; a home that will play host to love, laughter, growth, and even more hope. Although getting to this point has been a challenge for Tito and Edith, the hard work has certainly paid off for the family. Stephanie, age seven, is enjoying second grade and is an active Girl Scout. Cristian, age nine, is a fourth grade student and a pee wee league baseball player. Ulisess, age 16, is a tenth grade special education student who swims and plays basketball for the Special Olympics. Tito is both a food server at the Embassy Suites and a chef for his own catering company, "Ulisess Catering", while Edith attends Skyline College, is a noon supervisor at Ponderosa Elementary School and a full-time mom. Undoubtedly, for this busy family, the new home will be bustling more than the Habitat homeowner families on their first "sweat equity" build day. "In the future, Tito hopes to have his own restaurant and I hope to become a special education teacher," Edith said. "I can definitely say that with the opportunity to own a Habitat house, we can keep moving forward." "We dream of giving our children the opportunity to feel part of one community and continue their education so that one day they can also fulfill their dreams."