Josefa Moran – McNerney Avenue, South Gate
Josefa Moran was born August 1927 in Ecuador. She lived there and worked as a cashier until she came to the states in 1964 with her husband And her only daughter Maria. Once in the states, they lived in California and eventually bought their first home is South Gate, where she continues to reside today. She worked for many years as a seamstress, and now lives on a modest income from Social Security.
Josefa and her husband divorced over 20 years ago and her daughter moved on to start her own family of three children. Josefa has lived alone for the past 20 years, tending to her home as best she could. Her home is well kept, but due to a lack of income and increasing arthritis, her home has fallen into disrepair. Weeds in the yard, where a lawn should be, peeling paint on the trim of the house, rust on the gates and window bars. Plumbing issues on the interior as well as the need for repairs throughout from normal wear and tear.
Through a Lowe’s grant and through the support of a great group of volunteers from USC, Cornerstone Research and Chapman college, we were able to replace her fence, paint the entire exterior of the home and garage, repair the plumbing, top some very tall Cypress trees, re-landscape the front yard, improve her safety inside and outside the home with the addition of grab bars and safety rails.
The last Saturday in April, the Rebuilding Together Greater Los Angeles board of directors along with a few close friends will return to Josefa’s home to complete the interior repairs that she needs to continue to live in warmth, safety and security, with dignity for the remainder of her years.
