Courtesy Brian Zilich

Keeping a family together, under one roof, safe from the elements, with enough food and clothing to get along is challenging, at best, for most people. Trying to keep all of that on a low income is monumental.

That is what the seven-member Estrada family – two parents and five children – were dealing with when Provo city warned them they needed to bring their single-wide mobile home up to code or move out.

What makes it that much harder is the position of homeowner and mom Susana Estrada — she stays home and takes care of the children, four of whom have a disability, while her husband works.

Just when the Estrada family thought they would be homeless, their story was shared by the United Way of Utah County with the Fuller Center for Housing of Utah County.

The Utah County Fuller Center has a covenant partnership with the national Fuller Center for Housing, founded 17 years ago by Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity.

Courtesy Brian Zilich

Their mission is to put people into affordable housing and to build up lived-in houses with refurbishing and renovation.

Before the Utah County chapter could get off the ground and begin its work, the pandemic locked down Utah residents. However, that hasn’t stopped volunteers from taking on projects through the COVID crisis and beyond.

“We have done over 60 projects since the end of 2019,” said Brian Zilich, Fuller House Project Committee lead.

What they did for the Estradas is their biggest project – at least financially — to date.

The family lives in three bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom single-wide in the Crestline Estates mobile home park in southwest Provo. Their home needed several major renovations.

Courtesy Brian Zilich

When Mint Construction heard the story, they and other subcontractors got to work. Because of their efforts, what was originally a $50,000 project cost only $10,000. Employees of the company volunteered their time and expertise to the project, as well as materials. It took just over one week to complete the work.

“They donated labor and materials with about 15 people there each day working in their fields of construction specialties,” Zilich said.

Needed repairs included a new roof, new all-around skirting, rebuilt deck and awning, being completely painted, a new HVAC system and painting a small shed.

New windows will go in this week so the home is “winterized.” In the early part of next year, volunteers will return and start upgrading the inside of the home, Zilich said.

Zilich indicated the volunteer housing group is looking at doing around 100 roof replacements, wheelchair ramps and more, including landscaping and painting, in the coming year.

The Estradas are originally from Mexico, but have lived in Utah for nearly 25 years.

“A large burden has been taken off their shoulders,” Zilich said.

While the Estradas can’t pay back the money it cost to do the fix-up on their home, the Fuller House program lets the family work out a way to pay it forward — to help other families in need.

“United Way is thrilled to have the Fuller Center as a partner,” said Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO of United Way of Utah County. “Fuller meets a critical need helping seniors and families that might slip through the cracks. Helping families and seniors keep their homes safe and secure meets such a critical need.”

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