Building A Family's Future
Adriana and Guillermo Ramos moved to Royal City in Washington state to find work on a local farm and give their daughters, Diana, 8, and Jimena, 6, a good education and the opportunity for rewarding careers. Washington’s farm country provides a steady stream of jobs for farmworkers. Decent affordable housing, however, is in short supply. When the Ramos family first arrived in Royal City, Adriana and Guillermo quickly went to work in the orchards and came home each night to a cramped apartment shared with relatives. Then they moved to Reino del Cielo.
As Marty Miller, executive director of the nonprofit Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH), explains, much of the existing affordable housing in Royal City is overcrowded and poorly maintained. “The work,” says Miller, “is physically demanding and pays low wages— creating a tremendous demand for affordable housing and community services.”
Reino del Cielo meets the Ramoses’ need for affordable housing and links the family to vital services. The farmworker community features 50 energy-efficient townhouses and social services that include English as a Second Language classes and parenting groups. ORFH and Catholic Charities Housing Services of Yakima developed Reino del Cielo with critical funding from Enterprise: $7.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity investment and a $900,000 bridge loan. The development reduces energy consumption through thoughtful design and specifications based on the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria.
With a safe, comfortable home they can afford, Adriana and Guillermo can now focus on fulfilling their dream—ensuring their daughters get a good education.