Hopie and her husband Enrique have lived in Kent for more than two decades, having bought their home when his work brought him to the area. Originally from the Yakima Valley in sunny Central Washington, Hopie found adjusting to the Puget Sound weather difficult at first. Over time, she grew used to the rain and settled into life in the region.
Before retiring, Hopie worked as a caregiver in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Her husband worked as an alcohol and drug counselor. In retirement, Hopie spends time with her community and family. For more than 20 years, she and several other women in her neighborhood have played dominoes together. While some of the original group have moved away or passed on, two of the original players remain, and the group now meets every two weeks at the senior center in Kent.
Hopie is the mother of eight children: six sons and two daughters. Her family, including numerous grandchildren, is spread across several locations, including Tacoma, South Seattle, Arizona, the Yakima Valley, and Idaho.
Hopie first learned about Habitat for Humanity’s repair program through a newspaper several years ago. At the time, she and her husband were experiencing problems with a leaking roof. She applied to the program, and after some time, they were accepted.
While the roof repair was the original need, the work ultimately extended beyond that. Habitat completed a new roof, installed a new water heater and a new furnace heat pump, added a range hood over the stove, replaced fans, repaired the stairs, remodeled the bathroom, fixed closet doors, and repaired the front door. Hopie described the work as beautifully done and expressed deep gratitude for the improvements.
The repairs were completed through two different programs through Habitat, CAPABLE and Critical Home Repair. The work took approximately six months, beginning in late fall and continuing through winter, with crews returning to finish what weather initially delayed. Additional repairs, including the bathroom work, were completed after she qualified for the second program. Hopie has recommended the repair program to others and has even encouraged family members to apply.
Since the repairs were completed, Hopie has noticed clear improvements in her quality of life: “With all the work, our light bill has come down quite a bit and our heat is better. Our stairs are very sturdy; we’re not afraid to go down them anymore. Everything is wonderful.”