Atreus Homes & Communities
Meet the Family
 

The Family

The Martinez Family of Albuquerque, New Mexico!

On January 15, 2007, the Martinez family of Albuquerque, NM was surprised to receive the news that Ty and the gang of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will be transforming their insufficient, run-down duplex used as a refuge for the needy and homeless into a larger and safe home for their family in a remarkable seven days.

When Gerald Martinez was offered a job at a local church in Albuquerque, he quickly moved his family of seven from Colorado to New Mexico. Before moving to New Mexico, Gerald spent much of his time making trips to help the troubled communities of Albuquerque. Instead of moving into a safe neighborhood for his wife Liesa and seven kids, Gerald moved his family into a run-down duplex that was just minutes away from the church.

In a neighborhood of crime, drug deals, and prostitution, Gerald began transforming the church into a refuge for the needy. This refuge included a café, daycare facility, and working bathroom with showers so the homeless had a place to clean up. The community welcomed the Martinez Family home beforeMartinez family and was very grateful for all of their hard work.  However, there were some members that did not take a liking to Gerald and even attacked him with a glass bottle in front of his own house.

Still, Gerald managed to work together with the community and quickly transformed an area once called "the War Zone" into a new and better place now called "God's Block." As crime rates decreased and the community began getting media attention, Gerald purchased two other duplexes that would be used to create the "Mission Outpost," a place where broken people could recover from their troubles.  With an open door policy, many people were making use of the Outpost.  The Martinez family was finally connecting with their neighbors, but they also began to lose their own family privacy.

Soon enough, the family began to undergo financial difficulties as well, considering they do not charge rent. Although the family has made a great impact on the transformed community, they do not have enough space for themselves to live in. They don't have a working stove and use hot plates to do their cooking.  With little privacy and on the verge of financial ruin, the Martinez family is in severe need of a new and safe home where they can continue their mission to save the town of Trumbull.

While Ty and the designers, local homebuilder Atreus Homes & Communities, and the hundreds of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Martinez family will go on vacation to Walt Disney World.

The episode "Martinez Family" will air during the 2008 season.

The location address is: 404 Grove Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.

 

 

© 2008 Atreus Homes & Communities LLC. All rights reserved. An Equal Housing Opportunity Builder.