Local single dad prioritizes quiet neighborhood to raise his family
Miguel, a local forestry worker, lives in one of MEND’s affordable rental units with his mom Carmen and his 14-year-old son Malique.
Miguel, a single dad and forestry worker, has lived in the same duplex in Leavenworth since 2010. His desire for a quiet place to raise his family prompted the move, from one apartment owned by the Marsons—one with loud neighbors who partied a lot—to this one on Joseph Street.
Miguel has stayed in the apartment for 15 years because of how much he likes it, and the neighborhood he lives in.
“We’ve stayed because it’s quiet, and the neighbor is really great.” Miguel and the neighbor have lived in either side of the same duplex for many years. “We get along really good. She used to come over for dinners and parties in the back yard.”
Today, he lives in the apartment with his mom, Carmen, and his 14-year-old son Malique, who has lived in the apartment his whole life. His daughters, Deja, 23 and Tatiana, 21, also grew up in the apartment on Joseph street; both now live in Wenatchee.
Making a Duplex a Home
“I asked my mom to move in when the mom of my kids left and went back to Spokane,” Miguel said. “I said, ‘Mom, I need help’ and she’s been with me ever since.”
A single parent herself, Miguel’s mom Carmen came to the area first because her nephews had established lives here. One by one, she worked to save money to bring four of her five children up from Oaxaca, Mexico to live with her.
“I came here when I was 14, so I pretty much grew up here,” Miguel says.
Since MEND bought the Marsons’ portfolio of rental housing in December 2023, Miguel has appreciated working with MEND’s Housing Manager Kathia Wan Mendizabal.
“Kathia is very professional,” he said. “Since MEND {bought the duplex} everything has been really smooth. Every time something needs to be fixed, Kathia has quickly answered my calls and got it fixed. I feel like MEND cares about their buildings.”
“I just love Leavenworth,” Miguel says. “It’s quiet. You can go swimming, and there are a lot of things to do to stay busy. But mostly I love it because it’s quiet.”