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 Long-separated brothers united by new homeVolunteers, companies rally behind ‘Operation 3 Brothers’ to transform fixer-upper in Nestor The boys are, from left, Juan, Mario and Jose Robles. Juan, Mario and Jose Robles have beaten the odds by turning a broken childhood into a promising future together. The four-bedroom home they purchased in Nestor, a community east of downtown San Diego, is the fulfillment of a simple dream of being able to live together. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. When we were separated, I thought maybe I can get my brothers back together,” explained Jose Robles. He is the 24-year-old middle brother who had been saving for nine years, since he was 16 years old, for a down payment on a home. When the boys were 16, 13 and 11 years old their father was sentenced to prison and their mother abandoned them. They lived with their grandmother until they were taken into foster care right before Christmas in 1998. “It was confusing, it was devastating, I knew we were going to be separated,” said Robles. In foster care, the boys remained in separate households until one by one they aged out of the system at 18 years old. They didn’t allow their tough circumstances squash their dedication to each other and a better life. Jose Robles credits his foster mother for keeping him on the right path. “She wanted me to succeed, she stimulated me and taught me things,” he said, including how to save money and spend it wisely. Robles, who works for the San Diego County library system, took a year and three months to find the perfect house. Then he went through three banks to get it financed. His brothers pitched in money they had saved and agreed to pay rent to help with the mortgage. They closed escrow this summer. “We all did it together, they supported me as brothers, always helping me,” he explained. The house was the right price, but it needed a complete overhaul. Robles figured it would take him a decade to slowly bring the house up to a good standard. Instead, volunteers and local companies have pledged to turn the Robles’ home into a showcase in time for this Christmas. “We are all happy for them and we want to celebrate their success,” explained Don Wells, executive director for Just In Time for foster youth. It is a local charity dedicated to providing mentoring, emotional and financial support for former foster youth who often find themselves isolated and ill-equipped for success in school or careers once they are “emancipated” from foster care. Just In Time organized “Operation 3 Brothers,” a major renovation project on the Robles home that kicks of Sept. 20. The San Diego Labor Council had dedicated a month of manpower to patch and paint walls and ceilings. Kaminskiy Construction is providing a kitchen renovation. Volunteer Tony Moreno is taking care of the home’s flooring. Sleep Train is donating three beds. Behr Paint is donating 25 gallons of paint and primer. EDCO is donating a dumpster. Terri Satin, a Just In Time board member, explained that the Robles brothers deserve the help. “They are a great example to other foster you, the resilience [they] showed, I’m just in awe,” she said. Just in Time is still seeking new doors, energy efficient appliances, a new water heater, replacements for broken windows, some landscaping and irrigation system repair. Robles admitted he was surprised and very pleased by the outpouring of support for his family and their efforts. “It just makes my heart feel good. I feel complete now, very supported. That’s something I have not felt in years,” he said. He’s been watching HDTV to get design ideas and says he feels like a weight of anxiety has been lifted from his shoulders. “I feel good knowing my brothers are safe, they now have a safe place,” he said. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating is asked to visit the Just In Time website at  |