As the fearless head of her household, Reyna lives in Bloomington with her 18-year-old daughter, Mabelinne, and her 12-year-old son, Pablo. She has worked tirelessly to give her family the life they deserve. Currently employed at a daycare center, Reyna enjoys supporting her family while doing work she loves. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and cherishes every rare moment of rest. Reyna is a mother who does it all, but even heroes sometimes need a hero of their own.

Right now, Reyna and her children live in a rental they’ve done their best to turn into a home. But each year, the rent rises, and so does their need for more space. The fear of no longer being able to afford the rent started to creep in, bringing with it the painful possibility of no longer being able to support her children.

Undeterred, Reyna didn’t give up. When she heard about the Habitat program through her church and from current homeowners, she immediately applied. After being accepted, she immediately got to work, attending meetings, learning new skills, and putting in hands-on labor at the construction site. Though she was nervous on her first day, she learned how to cut wood with an electric saw (a skill few people ever acquire). Her dedication to the worksite and the program is helping her build her family’s future, one brick at a time.

Beyond hope and practical skills, the program has given Reyna something more: a community. She’s joined a group of people with similar stories. Future neighbors to lean on for something as simple as a gardening tool, or advice when life takes over. Reyna has always had her family by her side, but with the added support system through the program, she now feels more empowered than ever. 

For a long time, Reyna dreamed of a safe, stable home where her family could laugh, grow, and make memories without the constant worry of rising rent or relocation. Thanks to her decision to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, that dream is becoming a reality.