Elizabeth's Educational Journey

"Avena Bella was a safe haven sent from above. Having a secure and affordable place to live gave our family the stability I needed to excel in school and pursue my dreams."

A Life of Movement

Elizabeth's early life was marked by constant movement around Turlock, a town in Stanislaus County. Before she turned 17, she had lived in seven different places – doubling up in houses of extended family members or crowded apartments where she lived with her sisters and her mom.

"We were always moving, always uncertain about where we'd be next month. It was hard to make friends or feel settled anywhere."

Finding Stability

By her early teens, the family found affordable housing at Avena Bella apartments, which allowed them to truly put down roots and made it easier for the family to make friends and build community connections.

"Avena Bella became our safe haven. For the first time in years, we had a place we could call home, and that stability changed everything for our family."

Academic Excellence

With housing security, Elizabeth flourished academically. She consistently stayed on the honor roll throughout high school while getting involved in the Hispanic Youth Leadership Council, the Distinguished Young Women of Turlock, and other activities. She also followed her passion for public speaking through Speech and Debate.

"Having a stable home meant I could focus on my studies and extracurricular activities. I wasn't worried about where we'd be living next month – I could plan for my future."

Scholarship Success

With an eye on costs, Elizabeth chose California State University Stanislaus and applied to as many scholarships as she could to afford tuition. Through the Avena Bella newsletter, she learned of the Guardino Affordable Housing Scholarship and was named a 2020 awardee right around the time of her socially distanced high school graduation.

"The scholarship was the final piece of the puzzle. Stable housing gave me the foundation to succeed academically, and that academic success opened doors to higher education. It all started with having a safe, affordable place to call home."