Enjoying the warm morning sun from her fourth-story balcony overlooking a stately oak tree, Maria, 60, feels like she’s living in a beautiful dream, enjoying a comfort and safety she never knew was possible.
She and her son Jose, 40, who suffers from bipolar schizophrenia, live in a two-bedroom apartment at National CORE’s newly built Oak View Ranch Family Apartments in Murrieta.
“I just feel so happy all the time now,” Maria said. “I feel like I can take on the world!”
Oak View Ranch was built with residents like Maria and Jose in mind – families who have spent decades paying most of their income on housing costs. National CORE partnered with the City of Murrieta to tackle the rising cost of housing – where renters need to earn $37 per hour – more than twice the state minimum wage – to afford the average monthly rent of $1,920.
Without the security of affordable housing through National CORE, Maria said she would still be living in ramshackle accommodations or worse – she might still be homeless.
Before Oak View Ranch, life was far from stable or secure.
For more than 30 years, she worked backbreaking, low-paying jobs to clothe, house and feed her six children. Even after long workdays, she would jump at the chance to help friends and neighbors before allowing herself to rest.
In 2020, Maria, like so many others, found herself with limited employment opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The best she could find was work at a swap meet in San Bernardino, where she caught COVID for the first of three times. Her last, brutal bout hospitalized her for nearly two months and left her with lasting liver damage.
While in the hospital, she and Jose lost their apartment and ended up in her cramped 20-year-old Chevy Tahoe. Maria said it was a nightly battle to find areas where they could park and sleep that were free from gang violence and theft while also not getting ticketed for loitering by police.
But in her darkest moments, Maria found hope.
Maria’s friends from the swap stepped in and welcomed her and Jose into their homes from 2022 to 2025. They also connected her with In-Home Supportive Services, where she has spent the last two years working part time as a caregiver – a career she deeply adores.
“I love my job. I can really say that I feel happy going to work each day,” Maria said. “I like taking care of people and helping them because some of my patients don’t have anyone to help them at all. Also, it provides me with the means to take care of my son, which is amazing.”
Finally, a friend recommended she apply for affordable housing through the Inland Empire Health Plan and County of Riverside. Against thousands of applicants, Maria was chosen for Oak View Ranch in August.
Maria said gaining affordable housing has given her and Jose peace of mind, allowing them to focus on self-improvement instead of worrying about rent. She now sees a physical therapist to alleviate shoulder pain from years of manual labor and Jose has access to health resources and medication for his bipolar schizophrenia.
Now that Maria and Jose are settled into their new home – they love taking walks through the downtown shopping area, getting ice cream and enjoying the safety that Murrieta offers.
“Everyone involved at National CORE and Oak View Ranch has been so nice and friendly – I cannot thank them enough for giving me and my son a home,” Maria said. “I never knew anything like this would happen. It’s like I am finally able to see the sun.”
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