Casa Hogar el Puente: Migrant Family Community TJ
Donation protected
La Casa hogar el Puente is a migrant founded and run community for asylum-seeking migrant women and children who have been returned to Tijuana under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), where many have to wait for months in Mexico for their cases to be resolved. It is a sanctuary space crafted by and for migrants, where they can maintain their connection to home while in community.
Set in a peaceful hillside in the outskirts of Tijuana, la casa hogar is a respite from the harsh reality that many migrants face living in the center of the city, where they are subject to police harassment, street violence, and the temptation of cheap drugs. At the casa hogar, people have the chance to reconnect with their humanity, whether that be through working in the garden to heal the soil, playing games in our arts programming, or simply going about their days without the stress of eminent danger. The migrants we see here are fleeing from gang violence, political oppression, environmental changes that make their ancestral ways unlivable, and unreasonable economic conditions. Living in conditions of constant danger and desperation has a profound effect on ones ability to process, think, and make decisions. The environment we’ve worked to foster is a platform for the mental spaciousness necessary to reflect and process through the difficulties people have been through, and make informed and resourced decisions for their next steps.
This project was created by three Honduran caravan members in Tijuana, who have been moved by the immense need for safe housing options for refugee families. As the Central American community in Tijuana is becoming more established because of MPP and continual migration, Casa Hogar el Puente hopes to shift the perception of Central American migrants here in Tijuana so they can be respected for their contributions to the city. In July of 2019 the land and house were generously leased to the team of migrants for free, and over the following 7 months we worked diligently to renovate and build out the space, ensuring that it is structurally sound and safe for children. In late January 2020 we opened and began receiving families, and are continuing work on expanding housing and establishing a garden.
The space has capacity for 25-30 women and children, who will be offered shelter for the duration of their asylum proceedings. During this time, they will be resourced with information about next steps, and connected with local job opportunities. We are working with a team of lawyers in California to be able to offer legal representation to all of our community members. There will also be food, plant, and craft vending as well as other events based out of the space to help with creating purpose, community relations, and fundraising.
The projected monetary needs for this project are (USD):
$1,100 annual taxes for the house
$650 annual water bill
$700 annual electricity bills
$5,000 annual food costs
$5,000 materials for continued construction
$2000 furniture
$7000 vehicle, gas, maintenance, and other transportation costs
$5300 annual stipend for migrant coordinator
Get regular updates, photos, and stories on our facebook page:
https://tinyurl.com/tvx6fdg
Casa Hogar featured in Sintesis TV here: https://tinyurl.com/unjjkhe
Set in a peaceful hillside in the outskirts of Tijuana, la casa hogar is a respite from the harsh reality that many migrants face living in the center of the city, where they are subject to police harassment, street violence, and the temptation of cheap drugs. At the casa hogar, people have the chance to reconnect with their humanity, whether that be through working in the garden to heal the soil, playing games in our arts programming, or simply going about their days without the stress of eminent danger. The migrants we see here are fleeing from gang violence, political oppression, environmental changes that make their ancestral ways unlivable, and unreasonable economic conditions. Living in conditions of constant danger and desperation has a profound effect on ones ability to process, think, and make decisions. The environment we’ve worked to foster is a platform for the mental spaciousness necessary to reflect and process through the difficulties people have been through, and make informed and resourced decisions for their next steps.
This project was created by three Honduran caravan members in Tijuana, who have been moved by the immense need for safe housing options for refugee families. As the Central American community in Tijuana is becoming more established because of MPP and continual migration, Casa Hogar el Puente hopes to shift the perception of Central American migrants here in Tijuana so they can be respected for their contributions to the city. In July of 2019 the land and house were generously leased to the team of migrants for free, and over the following 7 months we worked diligently to renovate and build out the space, ensuring that it is structurally sound and safe for children. In late January 2020 we opened and began receiving families, and are continuing work on expanding housing and establishing a garden.
The space has capacity for 25-30 women and children, who will be offered shelter for the duration of their asylum proceedings. During this time, they will be resourced with information about next steps, and connected with local job opportunities. We are working with a team of lawyers in California to be able to offer legal representation to all of our community members. There will also be food, plant, and craft vending as well as other events based out of the space to help with creating purpose, community relations, and fundraising.
The projected monetary needs for this project are (USD):
$1,100 annual taxes for the house
$650 annual water bill
$700 annual electricity bills
$5,000 annual food costs
$5,000 materials for continued construction
$2000 furniture
$7000 vehicle, gas, maintenance, and other transportation costs
$5300 annual stipend for migrant coordinator
Get regular updates, photos, and stories on our facebook page:
https://tinyurl.com/tvx6fdg
Casa Hogar featured in Sintesis TV here: https://tinyurl.com/unjjkhe
Organizer
Oona Valle
Organizer
