Malissa grew up in Clark County and has been living in Las Vegas since 1988. She is a graduate of Clark High School and has a 16-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter. A self-described “go-getter,” when she wants something badly enough, she will do everything possible to achieve it. Malissa believes that, no matter the hardships in life, if you work hard, you can accomplish anything. She began working in retail right out of high school and transitioned into the casino industry. However, when she became pregnant with her first child, she decided to quit her job and become a stay-at-home mom. Shortly after having her second child in 2008, she and her husband divorced. Her main focus became figuring out how to support her two children, both under the age of two.
For the past 13 years, she ha
s struggled to support herself and her children while trying to find an adequate home for them. She currently resides in a travel trailer. Summers have been especially difficult because the inside temperatures can reach as high as 95 degrees. The insulation is poor, causing the AC to run non-stop. Due to these conditions and the tight quarters, Malissa made the tough decision to live apart from her children temporarily. She is fortunate to have an amicable relationship with her ex-husband. Their commitment to co-parenting has allowed them to navigate their living situation with consideration for their circumstances. She knows that the trailer isn’t sufficient for two teenagers, so they are staying with their father while Malissa searches for a real solution. The living situation of her children only further motivates her. She is determined to set a positive example for them, hoping to teach them that setbacks aren’t permanent—that they can get up and keep going.
Malissa dreams of a place to call her own where her children, future grandchildren, friends, and family can gather for Thanksgiving and Christmas—a place where they can grow. She believes that a home would benefit her family by finally bringing them together. Homeownership, made possible through Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas, also gives her children the chance to volunteer, granting them Honor Society hours they can detail on their college applications. She is deeply grateful for this opportunity to invest in their future.
