Louis and Gloria Medina

In January 2017, volunteers from Boys Team Charity and St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church came together to complete much-needed home repairs for longtime Oak Park homeowners Louis and Gloria Medina. The project marked Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County’s 100th home repair through its Preserve a Home program, which launched in 2011 to help low-income homeowners live safely and securely in the homes they love.

Louis and Gloria have lived in their Oak Park home for 30 years.

Now approaching their 80s, the Medinas found themselves facing rising living costs and critical repairs required by their homeowners association that they simply could not afford. Over time, leaks worsened, windows needed replacing, and their landscaping required drought-tolerant upgrades.

Louis, a Vietnam veteran, dedicated 37 years to serving fellow veterans as an Occupational Rehabilitation Therapist at the VA Hospital, helping them rebuild their lives after war. As he prepared to turn 80, keeping up with the physical and financial demands of home repairs became increasingly difficult.

With support from a Ventura County Community Development Block Grant, The Home Depot, and dozens of dedicated volunteers, Habitat was able to step in and preserve the Medina family home. Repairs included fixing leaks, replacing windows, and installing drought-tolerant landscaping to improve safety and efficiency.

In February 2017, Habitat celebrated both its 100th Preserve a Home project and the Medina family’s 50th wedding anniversary — honoring not just a repaired home, but a lifetime of commitment, service, and love.