When Juanita Zabalza and her sons decorate their Habitat Home, it may just be covered in red and blue, with a few pinstripes thrown in.
Juanita, Rodrigo and Thomas are huge sports fans, and soon-to-be Habitat Homeowners.
“We love sports!” says Juanita, who works as a pediatric medical assistant at El Rio Health Center. “My older daughter is studying sports medicine, and we like the Cowboys, and we’re big University of Arizona fans; we also love the Yankees!”
But security is the first priority for the family. The Zabalzas currently live in a townhome, where the family gathers together for dinner most nights. But Juanita, Rodrigo and Thomas do not feel safe there.
“Police always patrol, and a car caught on fire,” says Thomas, who loves math and wants to join the SWAT team when he grows up. Thomas’ brother, Rodrigo, a high school sophomore, also loves math and hopes to be a mechanical engineer.
After getting that sense of stability and safety, giving her home her personal touch is something Juanita is looking forward to.
“Having our own home, not having to pay rent – somewhere stable, not having to move all the time – having my own place to decorate, and picking out my own furniture – I can’t believe it!” says Juanita.
And perhaps along the way, some Wildcat colors will sneak their way into that décor.