For the first weeks they all lived together, 11 sleeping on the floor and one bed, in the one-room house. But the crowded conditions were unbearable and the kids were at each other’s throats. Theresa was told about the possibility of having her own one-room house, made of “carton”, in a land invasion in Vista Hermosa. She knew the risks of living next to an arroyo but she was desperate for a place to live. A hurricane soon after washed away all the family’s meager belongings, but, refusing to give up, she gradually rebuilt. The house has an electric camping grill, where she cooks for her three boys, and one bed upon which they all sleep.

In order for Theresa to make money for the family’s needs, she found a night job several months ago at a tortilleria. She must leave home at 2:30 in the morning and return at 10 a.m. Because her house has
no door to lock, she must ask a neighbor to keep an eye on her family while she is working and they are sleeping.

For several months, Theresa was getting along, although exhausted from very little sleep. But then Marcos, 12, came down with food-borne hepatitis and one-year-old Izequiel with serious bronchitis. Both were prescribed medications that cost a lot, in addition to the doctor’s fees. Theresa realized she would not be able to buy the required uniform for Marcos to start the 6th grade. To make matters worse, she missed two weeks of work to care for the sick children and received no pay. Through a co-worker at the tortilleria, she heard about Liga MAC and the possibility that she could get temporary help there.

After a screening study by the director of the Centro de Apoyo, Blanca Roblero, she became eligible to receive vouchers for food for three months. Although the total of $600 pesos (around $60 US) per month does not sound like a lot, it was enough to help Theresa move through her crisis. Liga MAC also enrolled Marcos in its student support program, Adelante Con Educación (ACE), and made sure Marcos had a uniform and school supplies.

Both Marcos and Izequiel continue to have bouts of illness, much of which stem from the unsanitary living conditions in the “invasion” area. Theresa says that Samuel, now 5, is the healthiest, and as he runs giddily around the center during this interview, that becomes apparent. Teresa has reached the end of her emergency aid but says she is confident that she can reach her dream of a better life. Marcos goes to school in the afternoon and then works for tips as a carryout boy at Tiendas Populares, a local grocery store. He makes between five and 15 dollars each day, returning home at 10 p.m. It seems extreme for a young boy to be working so late, but it is normal for these families where everyone must work in order to get by. With the extra income Theresa hopes to be able to begin to buy her piece of land some day. But most important, she says, is being able to keep the children in school.