MARINA, MUTUAL HOUSING AT SPRING LAKE PHASE 2

“It’s been a great relief for me."
-Marina

I have worked at a local nut company for eight years sorting almonds. The almonds pass through a moving band, and we have to remove the leaves and other natural waste that it comes with. I work outside, but it is covered. During the winter it is very cold and during the summer it is very hot. It is not conditioned for us. I have also worked in warehouses where I would package electronic devices. I worked long hours, nine to ten hours a day. I would spend the whole day in the warehouse. I have lived in the United States for 24 years.

I found out about Mutual Housing through a neighbor that lived in my old apartment complex. She moved here and she told me about it. I first lived with my sister, in an apartment here in Woodland. I lived with her family, her husband and her kids. I lived there for one year. The following year I got married with the father of my daughter. I moved in with him. The apartment was better and it was in a good area. Later, he left my daughter and me for another woman. I returned to that same apartment with my sister. Well, I have not remarried since then. I dedicated myself to my daughter.

I stayed with my sister again for over a year. She had moved to a two-bedroom unit. I asked the manager to allow me to rent a one-bedroom unit. I moved into that one-bedroom apartment in 2001. I was there until I moved to Spring Lake.

Before, the apartment owners were more humane. They charged us less for rent. But lately, the property owners are taking advantage. We all worked and they mostly took everything we earned for rent. It was too much for the conditions – it was an abuse. Once, they were fixing the second-floor apartment. I lived on the first floor. When they damaged something in the bathroom upstairs, the roof in my apartment was dripping water from the top bathroom. I would report the damage and they would ignore me. I went a whole week with a flooded bathroom. Here in California, the high rents are an abuse. Most of our paycheck goes towards rent. We were left with little to nothing for the rest of our expenses, car payments, groceries.

I had been paying $860 for a one-bedroom. There was going to be another increase in June to $1,100. That was more than my paycheck. I lived too tense, always worrying about the rent payments. It did not allow me to think about the future. I lived in those apartments until I moved here, to Spring Lake. It’s been a great relief for me. It’s very peaceful. I feel heard with management. I feel more secure. Now I pay $677 per month.