International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8th March, honours women worldwide. However, it’s rare to hear about what that day was truly established for: to advocate for the human rights of women. It is right and just to remember that defending these rights is something that we still need to pay attention to. This includes the right to safe and dignified housing. The story below is an example of how housing and support for livelihood can be life-changing for a woman and her children.

13 Houses Jubilee Project

In a high-risk area on the outskirts of San José, Costa Rica, where many families live without reliable access to water, electricity, or emergency services, one single mother spent years praying for a safe place to raise her children. Today, through the project “Housing in the slum” (Viviendas en el precario), that prayer has been answered.

Led by Enrique Arce and Guillermo Hernandez, the initiative was created to provide a dignified home for Yadira and her two young children, offering not just shelter but safety, stability, and the opportunity for a new beginning. It was supported by many individual donors and by St. John’s University.

A brave mother seeking a better future

Yadira, a Nicaraguan migrant, fled the crisis in her home country in search of hope and security for her family. For years, she lived in a San José slum marked by crime, drug activity, and extreme poverty. The area lacked proper infrastructure and posed constant threats, from violence to natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

Despite these challenges, Yadira worked tirelessly to protect her children and provide for them through honest work.

The Matrimonios Vicentinos group, which emerged from the ministry of the Congregation of the Mission, provided support that enabled Ms. Yadira to begin a journey of systemic change. With an interest-free loan, she purchased a sewing machine and launched a small textile business while still living in the slum.

A home as a foundation for transformation

The goal of the project was clear: to purchase and secure a safe and dignified home for Yadira and her children. More than a change of address, the new house represents a decisive break from the violence and instability that once surrounded them. It offers protection from crime and the environmental hazards common in their previous community while creating a stable setting where the children can focus on their education and grow in a healthy, secure environment and where her business was not endangered.

For Yadira, the home provides something essential: a secure space to continue developing her small textile business and strengthening her financial independence. The project required careful and coordinated effort, including the regularization of her migratory status and a detailed housing market study. Through sustained fundraising and community support, the purchase of the home ultimately became a reality.

“This blessing comes from God.”

Now, the house has been delivered.

With visible emotion and gratitude, Ms. Yadira said:

“I am very happy, blessed by God, for this beautiful house that you have given to me. It allows me to give a better future to my son and daughter and a better life for them and for myself as well. For many years I asked God for this blessing because this gift comes from God.”

Her words reflect faith, perseverance, and the transformative power of solidarity. The success of this initiative relies on the renewed hope of a mother and the safety of two children who now have the opportunity to dream beyond survival. For Ms. Yadira and her family, this home is more than a roof; it is the foundation of a new chapter built on dignity, security, and possibility.