“I am so fortunate that my children feel at home here, that have their own space to do homework, play music, make good friends. We are establishing roots in this community.”
The first thing you’ll notice about Sarah Morales is how open, friendly, and genuinely happy she is. Sarah is a proud mother of four great kids including three-year-old Lilah. She is married to a man she loves and with whom she has thrived despite living in cramped quarters and moving around northern Virginia a lot due to rising rents. This was tough on their kids, their work, their sense of a future.
When Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) held a lottery for residents at the brand-new Arlington Mill on Columbia Pike several years ago, Sarah and her family were lucky to land a coveted 3-bedroom unit. Sarah knows her rent will not go up, her kids get to stay in the same great schools where they are scholars, athletes, musicians and artists.
Sarah now serves as a board member of APAH and spends time volunteering on her board duties or otherwise in her community. She recently finished her bachelor’s degree and was promoted at her job helping students access financial aid at NOVA. Sarah and her family take advantage of community resources like bike share, beautiful parks, and classes available through APAH and the county. Sarah loves meeting and learning about her neighbors who come from all over the area and the world. She believes that a strong community is essential for a healthy family.
Sarah gets emotional when talking about her life now.
“I am so fortunate that my children feel at home here, that have their own space to do homework, play music, make good friends. We are establishing roots in this community.”
Sarah loves Arlington and her family is ready to invest in this place. She hopes to own a home here one day and has been putting money aside each paycheck with that in mind.