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Their marriage was new and the little house wasn’t much older. Gloria was 18 years old when she and Reynaldo bought the 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom property on the South Side of San Antonio.

Back then, with life, plans and dreams ahead of them, it was easy for the young couple to believe that this was their starter house and a larger one was in their future. But the young couple became an older couple. The new house became an older house. Couple and house grew up and slowly aged together.

Through the years, Gloria and her husband were conscientious homeowners, doing a good job maintaining their home. One exception proved too expensive: the bathroom, which became more dangerous for the couple as age and ailments crept into their bodies.

The tile was torn up, the mirror cracked, the lighting dim and, most worrisome, Gloria struggled getting in and out of her bathtub, afraid she’d slip and fall.

Because of their fixed incomes, Gloria and her husband couldn’t afford to get the necessary work done so she called around looking for help. She called so many places that she doesn’t remember contacting Merced Housing Texas. She does remember praying one day for help and then, to her happy surprise, receiving a phone call from Jesse Flores, who manages our Owner-Occupied Repair Program (OORP).

“It was a miracle,” says Gloria. “We’re poor. I don’t know where all I applied.”

Through the OORP, Merced rehabilitated the bathroom with new flooring, lighting and a mirror much larger than the old one.

“They really went the extra mile for me,” says Gloria.

Most importantly, for Gloria and her husband’s, safety and security, Merced installed a walk-in shower with handrails.

“I’m no longer afraid of falling and have a presentable bathroom,” says Gloria. “It’s like having a new house. It’s wonderful. I’m very pleased with the work and thank God every day.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]