Meet Yaima Roig-Bergerano

Yaima’s favorite word is "resilience," and it’s a fitting mantra for her life.

As a single mom of four—Dominique, Kaileigh, Violette and Gustaf—Yaima has faced battles that would bring many to their knees. She’s beaten breast and lymphoma cancer, all while juggling two jobs just to make ends meet. Working full-time at Livingston Early Learning and picking up extra hours at TJ Maxx, she’s doing everything she can to provide for her kids. But with her rent on the rise, the challenge of keeping up with their three-bedroom apartment is becoming overwhelming.

Balancing two jobs means that time with her kids is precious and rare. Whenever she’s not working, she pours her heart into making memories with them—whether it’s playing board games, belting out karaoke tunes or enjoying the fresh air at the park with their dog, Luna. Those small moments are everything to Yaima. Her dream has always been to give her kids more than just a roof over their heads—she wants to give them a real home.

That dream seemed impossible until she learned about Habitat for Humanity from her aunt, Marta, one of our homeowners. Seeing Marta’s excitement and hearing about the 0% interest mortgage opened Yaima’s eyes to something she had only dared to hope for: the chance to give her kids a place they could call their own. A home where holidays would be filled with joy and birthdays would be celebrated with friends and family, where every wall would echo with love, not struggle.

Yaima is thrilled at the possibility of cutting back on work and finally having the time to be fully present for her children. For her, this isn’t just about buying a house; it’s about buying back time with her kids—time she’s been missing out on. Yaima will be able to focus on what truly matters: building a future filled with love, laughter and cherished memories with her family.