HOUSTON,TX – Home is more than just four walls—it’s where love, memories, and family come together.
For one Houston grandmother, the idea of “home” had become a daily struggle. That is, until an extraordinary act of kindness turned things around, bringing hope and renewal.
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This year, at the Houston Home & Garden Show, something special is happening. Mrs. Batres, a resilient grandmother who has faced unimaginable hardships, is receiving a gift she never expected—a beautifully furnished guest bedroom, made possible by American Furniture Warehouse and the show’s mission to give back.
At 66, Mrs. Batres has endured incredible challenges. In 2020, she lost her husband of 44 years to COVID-19. Suddenly, she was left to manage their aging home alone—a home that had become dangerously unlivable. The roof had caved in, the bathroom floor was exposed, and there was no heating or cooling.
On top of it all, she is the full-time caregiver for her son, German Batres, who faces multiple health challenges, including amputation, diabetes, and vision loss. Through it all, she has remained strong, but life was far from easy.
“She’s been a saint because I’m not going to say I’m the hardest person to get along with, but I’m not. I’m also not the easiest. She puts up with a lot,” German reflects, showing his appreciation for her strength and patience.
“Those times where, you know, depression kind of hit. I didn’t know what to do, but she kept me focused on tomorrow’s a better day,” he added.
A home rebuilt, a dream fulfilled
Recognizing the urgent need, the City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department stepped in through its Home Repair Program, providing a complete home rebuild. Mrs. Batres is one of 297 homeowners who have benefited from this life-changing initiative.
“This project means absolutely the world that we can give to deserving families, creating a community. This helps revitalize our housing stock as well as provide affordable housing throughout the city,” said Cedrick Lasane, Assistant Director of Single Family Operations for the City of Houston.
“The city of Houston has always [come] together. Help is on people. So there’s no doubt that this is the greatest city in the world,” German shared.
As the home was being rebuilt, additional considerations were made for ADA accessibility due to German’s health challenges.
“As we were going through the process of rebuilding this home, German had some complications that led to his leg being amputated. We looked at how to create more ADA accessibility. The Houston Home and Garden Show stepped in, and we wanted to do some additional things as well,” Cedrick Lasane explained.
When she saw her newly designed guest space for the first time, her reaction was simple but full of emotion: “It was beautiful.”
While the rebuilt home gave her a fresh start, there was still something missing—a welcoming space for family and friends.
That’s where the Houston Home & Garden Show and American Furniture Warehouse came in. Together, they designed and furnished a cozy guest bedroom, creating a space filled with warmth and love.
“People just think we come under one roof for a weekend for an amazing show. But they’re really, really big on giving back to the community. And, you know, Houston is Houston proud, right? So we are all about paying it forward in our community,” said Dee Brown of the Houston Home and Garden Show.
“The show itself, we’re bringing in the pros to talk to you about what to do in your home. But we actually kind of came into someone’s home to show them what we could do for them by bringing in our people to make it happen,” Dee Brown added.
Grateful for a fresh start
Mrs. Batres expressed deep appreciation for the generosity of those who contributed: “I’m grateful for everybody’s help. I want to thank everybody who physically or financially helped to create the space.”
She also shared how much this transformation has impacted her daily life: “I’m very grateful. Thanks [to] the City of Houston…they helped [and] fix the problems that we were having. And it just makes my life a lot easier.”
Cedrick Lasane also highlighted how other homeowners can access similar resources: “We receive funding each year and have a pool of applicants we’re working through. Homeowners can visit our website, houston.gov/housing, to apply for our program and get assistance. All our programs are geared toward low to moderate-income households.”
A space to enjoy for years to come
When asked about what she looks forward to most, Mrs. Batres joked that the guest bedroom might not stay a guest room for long: “I want to kind of take it over for myself.”
German added with a smile, “Well, my brother and his kids, you know, I got two brothers and both of them got kids. So whoever wants to come over first, they can enjoy the space first.” This reflects the family’s anticipation and excitement for future visits.
