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Family Secure In Stable Habitat
By REGIS L. ROBERTS - Staff Writer@ Tyler Morning Telegraph
For the first time in many years, the Arias family is experiencing some
security and stability. Their home on Alice Street in northeast Tyler
is cozy and clean. And, more importantly, it will be theirs for years to come. It was built last year as a Habitat for Humanity project, and
the family has lived there since October.
The events that led them to this point are hard for them to discuss.
David Arias, 49, did not want to go into
detail regarding how he and
his family ended up homeless because he did not want to place blame on
anyone.
It involved a home deal gone horribly wrong, and they found
themselves evicted.
"That night, we slept in our beds. The next night, we had no place to
sleep," Arias said.
He felt betrayed and worried about what would happen to his children.
The approximately nine months since they lost their home and they moved
into their Habitat for Humanity home was both trying and an uplifting
experience, he said.
Jennifer, now 16, and Josh, now 14, have moved around a lot in their
lives, they said.
Josh, who will start his freshman year of high school at Chapel Hill in
August, said it feels good to have stability with this new home.
Jennifer said she never had a hard time making friends at school --
even though she switched schools many times -- because she is
talkative.
His children have been a great motivator for Arias, prompting him to
even move to East Texas in the first place.
The family lived in California early in the children's lives, but Arias
decided to move to make a better home for them. Where they lived in
California, Arias said, they could hear gunshots every night.
Tyler, he said, is just right: quiet, peaceful, not too big and not too
small.
Mirna Arias, 43, said she got in contact with Habitat for Humanity when
someone she works for -- Mrs. Arias is a housekeeper -- who knew
Habitat executives put her in touch with people at the organization.
The greatest reward for the family is that they put themselves into
building the house, they said.
Each member of the family had a hand in making their home, and Mrs.
Arias said they have even helped build Habitat homes for other families
on their street.
While participating in Habitat projects is part of the deal to get a
home, Arias, who recently left a longtime job at Matex Co. in Kilgore,
said he has enjoyed the experience and would like to get even more
involved.
"They want to see you working for what's going to be yours," Arias
said.
Josh said they have developed a special relationship with their
neighbors because they helped build their houses.
In addition to assisting Habitat with construction of his and other
houses, Arias pays about $300 each month and has agreed to stay in the
home for 25 years.
Having worked on the house has given him and the rest of the family
invaluable knowledge of home repair. He said the experience has made
them more independent.
The experience makes living there that much more satisfying, he said.
Arias looked up at his ceiling, the ceiling fan Jennifer picked out
going around, making a slight hum. "We're here," he said, letting out a
sigh, "and we're happy."
Story supplied by Tyler Morning Telegraph
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