“Casas first heard of Habitat for Humanity — the program famous for its success in helping people who wouldn’t qualify for a home mortgage to be able to buy a house they helped build — on Univision two years before Harvey. Habitat was hosting an information meeting at a local church.”
“She carved out time on weekends with her family, and showed up on weekdays by herself. She became an expert at caulking and painting, and when she hit her second trimester and her pregnancy became obvious, the volunteers on site regulated her to light tasks, far from paint fumes.”
“The trailer park where Casas lived with her parents always flooded quickly — even in minor storms. So when Hurricane Harvey dropped more than four feet of rain on Houston in August, 2017, Casas feared there was no way her home would stay dry. She was right. The front part of the trailer had the least ground clearance. That’s where the water started, before rolling down the hall, into bedrooms and restrooms and, finally, the living room.”
“As it happened, the church, Prince of Peace, had a storage unit full of furniture donations from Costco. Volunteers at the church fitted the Casas new home with couches and tables, and sent over some essentials for the coming baby as well.”
View the whole story here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/The-Houston-community-saved-her-after-Harvey-Now-14852213.php