Reaching One Goal

Sets the standard for all the rest

One of nine children and a native of Mexico, Maria Hernandez came to Phoenix 22 years ago to better herself and her family. As a single mother of two young boys, she worked hard and sacrificed a lot to realize her dream.

"We lived in government-subsidized housing for a number of years. It was crowded and noisy, but we were together." Maria looks back on those struggles with relief and with a new-found sense of pride. "Those years have made us appreciate what we now have all the more."

Owning a home, she reports, has had a calming effect on her family. Her sons are well on their way to adulthood. The eldest is in college while holding down a full-time job; the youngest is about to graduate from high school. "I attribute much of their motivation to succeed to having our own home. It's shown them what you can accomplish if you take your time to do it right and you have the support and counsel of organizations like NHS Phoenix."

Not only is her NHS Phoenix-built home comfortable and quiet, it's also spacious enough for both sons to have rooms of their own. Her pets have a yard to play in and her green thumb finally has a creative outlet, evidenced by the colorful flowers abloom in the front yard.

Maria recently took a position with Maricopa Health Center, about five minutes from her South Phoenix home. The easy commute will free more of her time to focus on her next goal: helping her sons achieve their dreams.

"Accomplishing my goal of home ownership has set the standard for everything that comes next. Thanks, NHS Phoenix, for building us our dream."

From the NHS Phoenix 2006 Annual Report, June 2007.