For Luis and Sonia, homeownership marks a fresh start and a foundation for the future they’ve always envisioned. With deep roots in the Oceanside community and a strong sense of purpose as new parents, the couple is stepping into a long-held dream: creating a safe, stable, and joyful home where their daughter Camila can grow and thrive. Thanks to San Diego Habitat, that dream is finally coming to life.
Luis works for the City of Carlsbad as a street maintenance worker, operating large trucks and heavy equipment to help keep roads and walkways safe. Sonia is a pharmacy technician at TrueCare, where she proudly helps her community access affordable medication. Both take immense pride in their work—and in their roles as new parents.
Camila, born in July 2024, is a joyful and curious baby already determined to take her first steps before turning one. For now, the family shares a single bedroom in Sonia’s parents’ home, surrounded by the love and support of extended relatives.
While this close-knit environment has provided an important foundation, space is limited. With multiple people sharing one bathroom and household routines like cooking and laundry done in shifts, it can be difficult to find room for rest or play. Camila’s toys are tucked into corners, and there’s little open space for her to safely explore or play freely.
With the keys to their home, their family is gaining more than square footage—they’re gaining the freedom to breathe, to build, and to dream. Camila will finally have her own room, space to use her walker, and room to unwrap Christmas presents on her own living room floor. Luis looks forward to having a garage—“a man’s dream,” he says—while Sonia is eager to create a kitchen she can truly call her own. Together, they look forward to new memories, from painting projects to outdoor family dinners.
Their journey has been shaped by hard work, faith, and resilience. The milestone of becoming parents, combined with the news of being selected for a Habitat home, feels almost too good to be true. “It was everything,” they shared. “We held our daughter, cried, and just kept rereading the email. It felt like a dream—like a full-circle moment.” Luis credits much of his strength and drive to his late grandfather, a role model who built a life from nothing and taught him to always put family first. That legacy continues in their household. Though life hasn’t been easy, their faith, therapy, and love for one another have been anchors through it all. They are proud to be working on their mental health, committed to becoming the best parents they can be.
Now, as first-time homeowners, they look ahead with deep gratitude and renewed energy. Their Habitat home represents more than a milestone—it’s the beginning of a brighter, more grounded chapter, filled with opportunity,
stability, and hope.
