Our Housing Program grows within the families

At Common Hope, we believe that when students have access to education, family development and health, along with safe, stable housing, they are more likely to succeed both academically and within the family unit. That’s why our Housing Program exists, to address the difficult living conditions many Guatemalan families face and to provide dignified, secure homes where families can thrive and dream big.

This time, the Muralles family experienced our housing program impact firsthand. Fifteen years ago, the parents decided to move out of Guatemala City. It was a tough decision, but life in the city had become increasingly dangerous, and as their family grew, they knew they wanted a safer neighborhood, a healthier environment, and a real chance at a better future for their children. So they packed up and moved to Antigua.

Seeing how large and hardworking the family was, their new neighbors pointed them toward Common Hope | Familias de Esperanza, telling them it was a place that could help with education for the children. The family didn't hesitate. They visited and applied, and just a few weeks later, the good news arrived: they were officially part of the Common Hope family. That was in 2010, and from that moment on, the family kept moving forward with steady progress. To date, three of their children have graduated from high school (Josué and Guilber graduated with a specialization in accounting, and Evelyn graduated as a bilingual secretary), all supported by Common Hope.

But education was not the only support the Muralles family received. We strongly believe our programs should adapt to families, to their realities, their needs, their dreams, and their goals, so back in 2011, Common Hope provided the family with a fiber cement home, which was a significant improvement at the time. But since families grow, so do their needs. With more children still in school and space running tight, the family came back, hoping for a little more room to breathe. So this year, the Muralles family received a new home, a space where they can live with dignity.

The house inauguration was full of laughter, tears of joy, and deep gratitude for the journey that brought them here. When the parents opened the front door for the first time, it felt like the entire family was opening the door to new possibilities. And in many ways, that's exactly what it was.

You can be a part of a family's story. Help build a house in Guatemala by joining a Vision Team in 2026 as an individual or with a group. Contact Sandra (sandrag@guate.commonhope.org) or visit our website to learn more.