Affordable Housing Gives Farmworkers Like Maria Hope

Maria and her family were forced out of their home when her husband lost his job. Now, she’s advocating for housing solutions that give farmworkers the stability they deserve.

For Maria and her family, housing had always been tied to their jobs. For decades, they lived in a small home provided by Maria’s husband’s employer on the farm where they worked. But when he lost his job, they were forced to vacate overnight. The family scrambled to find a place to live in a region with limited affordable housing options, especially for folks making low incomes.

“Suddenly, we had no home and no security,” Maria recalls. She was left wondering if they’d ever find a stable place to call their own again. That’s when she reached out to Puente de la Costa Sur.

Share

Puente has been working closely with local farmworkers to advocate for permanent, affordable homes that go beyond employer-provided housing—homes that give workers and their families the stability they need to thrive independently. Together, they’re empowering a movement that calls on us to support immigrant families and break the cycle of dependence on employer-provided housing. 

Farmworker Dependence on Employee Housing

Many Bay Area farmworker families live in overcrowded and substandard housing due to a critical shortage of affordable options, jeopardizing both their health and ability for employers to retain workers.

“Pescadero is more than just a beautiful
place to visit, Pescadero has hardworking people,
people who make an effort every day
to get ahead. And who need to have
a home and a decent place to live.”

Maria knows that many farmworkers share her experience, relying on employer-provided housing that can be taken away in an instant. Her dream is for all farmworkers—especially immigrant families—to have access to permanent, affordable housing that reflects their dignity and invaluable contributions to the community.

If we come together, we make Maria’s vision a reality and build a stronger region for all of us. 

Maria’s story was told in collaboration with Puente de la Costa Sur. Puente fosters wellness and prosperity in the San Mateo County South Coast communities of Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar, and San Gregorio by promoting and advocating for equitable access to education, health, and economic security.