“I can see my family and I growing old in this home already and we don’t even have the keys yet.”
Alex Diaz and Christina Gonzales are an engaged couple who has two young children and another is on the way. The growing family is on their journey towards homeownership with Habitat. Alex is a cook at Captain Bills Oyster Bar and has been cooking for over nine years. When he is not cooking, you can find him landscaping in his free time. Christina is a beauty stylist at Ulta Beauty Salon and has already passes on her love for makeup and nail polish to her 4-year-old daughter, Olivia. Not only does Olivia like to put makeup on herself, but also her Barbies.” All her Barbie’s need to have eyeshadow and blue nail polish on,” Alex tells us. Their other child is their 1-year-old son, Jackson. “He has a couple of strong interests and I believe that’s milk and sleep.” Alex describes he and his fiancé as strong, loving, hardworking, determined and blessed. “I thank God for our kids which changed our lives for the better.,” he tells us. “Our kids matured us in an early stage of our lives. Realizing there’s no family without love. There’s no love without family.”
The Diaz-Gonzales Family has been living with Christina’s mother for almost five years. They have no window installation, which make hot summers and cold winters difficult. The concrete floors also have chips and cracks, which make it difficult for their children to walk and crawl safely. They have no space to keep their clothes, so they store everything in small bins scattered around their room. The family of four sleep in one bed, and it has been increasingly difficult with Christina being pregnant as well. Getting the news that they were accepted into the habitat homeownership program was life changing. “My first thought was God has a plan for me and my family. I thank God for my acceptance into Habitat,” Alex says.
Alex and Christina are both very excited to start their sweat equity hours. Alex is especially excited about landscaping because of his existing passion for it. “There is something about plants that can really make a front yard really pop. My goal once I get my keys to my home is making my front and back yard similar to the Garden of Eden. Sounds cheesy, but I will accomplish that goal.” The couple is also excited about their homebuyer education classes and have already learned many things from the classes they have attended. “Habitat is not just educating us and guiding us, but also rewarding us with sweat equity hours by taking the time to learn something for OUR FUTURE! It’s a win-win with Habitat.”
In their new home, Alex and Christina are most looking forward to having their kids paint their own rooms and decorate their walls however they like. “I’m looking forward to actually sitting down in the living room watching a family movie with everyone knowing we made sacrifices, but it was all worth it.” Applying for the Habitat program was the first step in the right direction for the Diaz-Gonzales family. For anyone considering applying to the program, Alex says “If your thinking about becoming a Habitat homeowner, I would say if you’re ready physically, mentally, and your heart is in it, what’s holding you back? Go for it!” To learn more about how to apply, visit our Apply Page on our website.
“I am building because you don’t just get handed the keys. Hard work pays off. Put in blood, sweat, and tears into something and you will feel accomplished. Also, with that same attitude you can uplift other families as well and feel accomplished.”
This home is sponsored by
The Diaz-Gonzales home was dedicated on April 24th, 2023.
