For 69-year-classic María Erminia Roda, a decades-long dream of living in a safe and dignified home has become a reality. The culmination of a community fundraising effort and the perform of a local foundation has provided Roda with a newly constructed house on the land where she was born, raised her children, and weathered life’s challenges.
The previous dwelling, which had been in her family for over three decades, was on the verge of collapse. It has been completely demolished and rebuilt with novel roofing, walls, a renovated bathroom, and – for the first time – reliable access to essential utilities. The transformation was spearheaded by Fundación Un Viejo Favor and fueled by a wave of donations from over 100 individuals.
“We spent almost two months completing the construction,” explained Santiago Jaramillo, director of Fundación Un Viejo Favor. “The old house was completely torn down and rebuilt. It has a new bathroom, a new roof, all new walls, and access to electricity and water. We spent approximately $25 to $30 million on the project.”
The story of Doña Erminia gained public attention on November 7, 2025, when El Colombiano published a report detailing her daily struggles and the precarious condition of her home in the Belén Aguas Frías neighborhood of Medellín. The article sparked an outpouring of support, with donations ranging from small contributions to significant financial assistance, as well as donated materials and pro bono technical expertise.
“El Colombiano really does favors for Un Viejo Favor,” Jaramillo noted. “This is a network effect. From Doña Erminia’s case, around 15 to 20 other initiatives are emerging in the community, as people in the neighborhood are as well contributing, which is also a help to them.”
Prior to the reconstruction, the house suffered from persistent leaks. The bathroom was structurally unsound, and during rainy seasons, Roda was forced to place pots throughout the house to catch dripping water. “My house had constant leaks, the bathroom was about to collapse, everything was falling apart, and I was constantly putting pots out to catch the rain, even in my bed. When there were earthquakes, I would pray to God not to experience them. There were many earthquakes, and my son would call to check on me, worried that the house might collapse on me,” she recounted before moving into her new home.
Roda’s life has been marked by hardship, including the loss of her daughter, Diana Patricia Marín, to dengue hemorrhagic fever at the age of 23, leaving behind two children. She has also battled heart and kidney disease, undergoing multiple surgeries and ongoing treatments. Despite these challenges, the desire for a safe and dignified home remained a powerful source of motivation.
The official handover of the house was an emotional event. “Yesterday, she just kept telling me it was a dream she thought was impossible,” said Jaramillo. “She cried with joy and happiness.”
Founded during the pandemic, Fundación Un Viejo Favor has provided assistance to vulnerable seniors, completing 4,128 acts of support since 2020, including providing wheelchairs, appliances, food baskets, paying utility bills, and supporting various charitable causes. The foundation has once again fulfilled what seemed like an impossible dream for someone in need: a place to call home.
