Meet Estrella (CARE House #21)

About the property

This newly constructed modular home, with a specifically designed addition for licensed child care operations, is situated at one end of an affordable housing development that supports workers. The home features clean lines of sight throughout the dedicated child care space and the outdoor classroom area. This is one of the first two properties in Colorado purchased by Care Access Real Estate® (CARE). The two CARE homes in this development are twins, though the lot sizes and shapes are distinct.

About the provider

Born and raised in a small rural town in Colorado, Estrella was brought up by her grandmother alongside three younger siblings. Surrounded by a close-knit, multigenerational family, Estrella developed a deep connection to young children early on—one that became a lifelong passion for early childhood education.

After some time trying for a family and working in the field, Estrella and her husband, Trenton, decided to take a step back and embraced a simpler life, renovating a camper and living intentionally on family land for two years.

Not long after, they were surprised to learn they were expecting their daughter, Laelia. This brought new inspiration and a strong desire to create something lasting—a way to stay home with her while building a financially stable future.

Estrella connected with Care Access Real Estate (CARE) through a Bright Futures course on the business aspects of running a child care home.

It was “a shock” visiting the home she was matched with. “It was beautiful,” Estrella recalls. “It has two stories, three bedrooms; a giant space, a beautiful large area set up for a classroom…I remember thinking, we could put math and science here, we can do art…this space allows children to learn through play and safely grow.”

Less than three months after moving in, Estrella earned her license to care for up to 12 children, the highest level of in-home child care licensing available in Colorado. She credits partners like Sheamus Croke of Rural Homes, Lindsay Dickinson and Kathleen Merritt of Bright Futures for Early Childhood and Families, and CARE for this opportunity.

About Care Access Real Estate®

Working with local ecosystem partners, Care Access Real Estate® (CARE) purchases homes in areas identified as not having enough quality child care, renovates them into ideal spaces licensable for large family child care, and leases them to child care providers who have gone through a vetting process. CARE’s national portfolio of commercial and residential properties is specifically designed to expand quality child care and help unlock the full potential and aspirations of center- and home-based providers.

Disclosure: The experiences of Estrella, a current CARE provider tenant, are shared above. No compensation was provided in connection with the experiences shared.