By Kristine Thomas
Francisco Frausto, 8, was hesitant to say what it’s like to share a bedroom with his 15-year-old brother, Jose, a freshman at Silverton High School and member of the soccer team.
Glancing over at his older brother and then his parents, Francisco finally blurts it out.
“Jose is messier than me,” Francisco said. “It was horrible sharing a room with him.”
Laughter erupts from his parents, Jose and Mayra, sister, Xitlali, 12, and Jose.
On a sunny April afternoon, the Frausto family was counting down the days from moving from their 824 square foot apartment in Mount Angel to their 1,280 square foot home in Silverton. The family received the keys to their new home on April 30.
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Everyone was excited about the kids each having their own bedroom.
The Frausto family are the owners of the 43rd home built by the North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity.
A few days before recieving the keys they met at the four bedroom, two bath home along with NWV Habitat for Humanity Development Director Michele Finicle and Executive Director Wendy Patton.
Finicle said more than 100 people applied to have a home built. A welder in Tualatin, Jose picked up an application a few years ago but never turned it in because he lost his job.
In 2014, he tried again and was surprised to have been chosen. Finicle said it takes a year to select a family and another year to build the home. With average home selling for $250,000, home ownership is out of the question for many families, Finicle said.
“The Fraustos are a hard-working family who have always held the American dream of homeownership dear to their heart,” Finicle said.
“Their commitment to providing their children a stable home and a more secure future is awe inspiring and they have worked tirelessly to achieve these goals. NWV Habitat for Humanity is honored in being able to help this loving family in their pursuit of building a better future.”
Building Habitat homes provides access to the American dream for many families, Finicle said, adding there are plenty of statistics that show the benefits of families owning a home including children who live in their own home are 116 percent more likely to graduate from college.
The family contributed more than 500 hours of labor total to help building their own and another Habitat house.
Francisco proudly points to the kitchen cabinets he helped select and shares he helped dig the foundation.
A seventh-grade student at Mount Angel Middle School, Xitlali shared she never had friends over to the family apartment because she didn’t have her own room. Being able to invite friends to her home is one of the many things she is looking forward to.
But mostly, she’s proud her family helped build their home.
“This house shows that anything is possible,” Xitlali said. “We had a dream of having our own house and now it has come true.”
With a large backyard, the family is planning a garden, fire pit, patio, pond with a fountain and more.
Jose is eager to have a place he can freely kick the soccer ball and Xitlali is looking forward to playing volleyball.
Speaking through her daughter as an interpreter, Mayra shared how it made her sad to see her three children sharing a room and not having any privacy.
She was eager to cook a meal in her new kitchen to celebrate the dedication of the house on April 30.
When asked how they were going to decorate their rooms, Francisco shared he wanted to have a photograph of Big Ben in London, the ocean and palm trees in Miami and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
“Those are all places I want to travel,” he said.
His older siblings day they haven’t made any decisions, yet.
“It’s really awesome,” Jose said. “”We have no words for how thankful we are to own our own home. We are just really thankful.”
The board of directors for North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity recently selected Wendy Patton as the new executive director.With nearly two decades in the non-profit world, Patton brings operational and strategic experience to the role.
“I am honored to be joining such a great team at the North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity” Patton said. “I look forward to being a part of the inspirational things we are doing in the community.”
Habitat for Humanity’s vision – a world where everyone has a decentplace to live – has always been near and dear to Patton’s heart.
As a single mother in the 1990s she worked hard to provide a home for her daughter. She knows first-hand how a safe and stable home environment – a place to call their own – can enable children to grow and thrive.
Patton spent 14 years working to provide scholarships for college students. Then she returned to college and earned her degree in communications and nonprofit management.
Bringing an encouraging outlook and positive energy to the job, Patton said she strives to create an environment of enthusiasm and fun for her staff, volunteers, donors and the community they serve.
To donate, volunteer or for more information on the North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity, call 503-845-2177 or visit www.nwv habitat.org.
