If you walk into Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter’s Family Services’ office break room this week, you’ll likely find Habitat homeowner Juan Pedraza quietly transforming the space with careful brushstrokes and prep. Painting is his trade, but for Juan, this project means more than a fresh coat of paint. It represents the final steps of a journey years in the making.

Juan and his partner, Daniela, moved into their Habitat home in Sierra Vista in June 2022, along with their three sons, ages 18, 14, and 6. Sierra Vista, Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter’s development in Marysville, consists of 36 homes with a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom floor plan. They had been renting in the same neighborhood for nearly seven years, watching new Habitat homes take shape around them and dreaming of one day owning a home of their own.

As rents climbed during the pandemic and their landlord prepared to raise rates, the family struggled to see a path forward. That’s when they turned to Habitat.
“All it took was the application,” Juan said. “From there, the Lord’s been blessing us throughout the whole process.”

Their landlord agreed not to force them to move while they applied, giving the family the breathing room they needed to move toward homeownership. Soon after, they were accepted into the program, guided by our staff who helped them navigate each step.

As part of becoming a Habitat homeowner, each partner family completes “sweat equity”, volunteer hours spent helping build Habitat homes, supporting the ReStore, or assisting with community projects. Sweat equity is an investment of time that allows families to contribute directly to the homes and communities they will one day call their own.

Juan threw himself into sweat equity, working closely with our Operations Superintendent Frank on neighborhood cleanup, job-site support, and anything else needed as new homes were built.

“I felt like it helped Frank because I was already there,” he said, laughing. “I got to really get familiar with the program, the people, and everything Habitat stands for.”

During the pandemic, some sweat equity opportunities were limited or delayed, creating unique challenges for families trying to complete their hours. To stay true to the mission of sweat equity, Juan is now making up for lost opportunities from that time.

He’s spending his remaining hours painting and installing flooring in the Family Services office break room. Juan has years of experience in the trade, including time spent as an apprentice in New York and Las Vegas. In those early years, many of his apprenticeship hours were completed for Habitat builds.

“To do those projects back then, and see the smiles of the families when the homes were turned over, that was amazing,” Juan said. “For me to actually be in that same circle now as a homeowner… it’s personal. It’s a true blessing.”

As he sands and paints, Juan carries a deep sense of gratitude.

“I give my time to make this look nice,” he said. “Habitat is my home. We’re truly blessed.”

His story, from apprentice painter to Habitat homeowner giving back, is a full-circle reminder that sweat equity isn’t just part of the process. It is where families begin to feel rooted as they build a place to call home.