The cramped Hazel Dell room is filled mostly with Malou's bed, desk, chair, crib and rolling racks used for hanging up their clothes. Her meals are cooked in the home's shared kitchen and their bathroom contains a small shower stall which makes it difficult for Malou to bathe her daughter. "I have to use a plastic tub and place it inside the shower to wash her," Malou said.

In addition to the confined space, Malou has also dealt with flooding from the laundry room, especially when a heavy rain occurs.  To spite drying out both the bathroom and carpet several times, getting rid of the smell of mildew this flooding has caused is a discouraging task.

When her mother Jeanie found Evergreen Habitat for Humanity's (EHFH) web site, she told her daughter about the housing program and Malou was ready to apply.  "I attended the homeowner orientation, completely filled out my application and made sure it was turned in prior to the due date," Malou said.

EHFH did a credit check and reviewed all of her paperwork.  When Malou found out she was one of six families to get a home visit she was even more excited. The family selection committee did the interview and visited her room in December. "My mother was praying for me, she's my angel," Malou said.

During this process she has continued her work at Wal-Mart being an overnight stocker where she has been employed for almost three years. Prior to that time she worked at Wal-Mart in San Antonio, Texas for four years before transferring to Vancouver.  When asked about the late night schedule, Malou says she is used to it and is very grateful to be working.  In her spare time she likes to do charcoal drawing and karaoke singing.

In early January her mom's prayers were answered when she was chosen to partner with EHFH for one of the next houses being built in 2010. When asked how she felt when she first found out she says, "I didn't expect it," and that it was still sinking in.

Until construction starts this spring, Malou is currently budgeting for closing costs and beginning her sweat equity hours.  She will need to work a minimum of 300 hours toward the project with some of those hours being contributed by family and friends. Although she hasn't had the opportunity to do construction work in the past, Malou says she has painted walls and is ready to learn.