Habitat for Humanity International

By 2030, UN-Habitat estimates that 3 billion people will need access to adequate housing. The housing needs are huge and the challenge is daunting. Putting people at the center of housing solutions will lead to better outcomes and greater impact, as the following stories will show.

PARTNERSHIPS

Tangible outcomes

Adi uses her WASH training to help other Fijian communities

Adi shares her knowledge about solar water disinfection to help other Fijian communities access clean water. Photo courtesy of Habitat Australia.

For Chanty (video screenshot), growing her own vegetables improves her family's food sufficiency and reduces expenses.

Congratulations to Habitat for Humanity Australia for achieving full accreditation with the Australian government in the most recent audit. A stringent process that takes place every five years, the full accreditation is testament to Habitat’s work in Australia as well as overseas. In Fiji, Adi has become an advocate for change and shared her knowledge including solar water disinfection with other communities. In Cambodia, homeowner Chanty used a microgrant to start a home garden and rear chicken. Being poor doesn’t make one unhygienic, says Chanty. With good living conditions and a diet of home-grown organic vegetables, her children stay healthy. She plans to save up to upgrade her home. As Chanty puts it, where there is a will, there is a way.

Coming alongside our Pacific neighbors

A member of Home NZ team builds with Tonga carpentry student

A building expert from Home works side-by-side to train and rebuild with Tongan carpentry students. Photos courtesy of Habitat New Zealand.

Habitat New Zealand CEO Alan Thorp (L) Samoa evacuation cent

Alan Thorp, Habitat New Zealand's group CEO, with Amuimuia Tausagimaiomanu Sia Alao, 82, who contributed his knowledge to develop a historical profile and community mapping as part of the PASSA training.

Each year between November and April, the Pacific communities brace themselves for the destructive cyclone season. Habitat for Humanity New Zealand works with Pacific community members to build skills and increase resilience. In mid-October, a team from construction and development company Home and Habitat New Zealand visited Tonga to assist with post-disaster rebuilding efforts. The team included qualified builders, electricians, and project managers from Home. They gave training and advice to carpentry students who are building up to 12 transitional homes for disaster-affected families in a partnership with Habitat New Zealand. By the end of four days, four homes were ready to progress with cladding and roofing. Over in Samoa, three new evacuation centers were opened in local commmunities. These centers were identified as a need by those who were trained in the Participatory Approach to Safe Shelter Awareness or PASSA. Habitat’s fundraising contribution to the Pacific is match-funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Negotiated Partnerships program.

Innovative housing solutions

Ed and Gina selecting eco-friendly constuction blocks

Ed and his wife Gina (video screenshot) selecting eco-friendly construction blocks produced by Green Antz.

Incremental home-builders like Ed and Gina from Philippines are building back stronger than ever with materials such as EcoBricks. The blocks are produced by enterpreneur Green Antz that won the 2019 ShelterTech Award at the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. With support from the Hilti Foundation, Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter is working to expand low-income families’ access to innovative housing products, services and financing through market-based solutions.

Multiplying efforts

Gaurav and his mother Geeta outside their home in India

Gaurav and his mother Geeta outside their home in Haryana. Photo courtesy of Habitat India.

Through a people-public-private partnership, a 20-home project was recently completed in India's northern Haryana state. With such support, Geeta could provide her son Gaurav with a stable home to complete his diploma course in pharmacy. She partnered with Habitat for Humanity India, The Muthoot Group and the Haryana government. It would have taken decades for them to build their house, says Gaurav. “Now this is a foundation for our better future." Over in Vietnam, a new project was launched in central Ha Tinh province with funding from Samsung CT&T Corporation in partnership with Habitat Korea. Habitat Vietnam also signed a memorandum of understanding for a five-year partnership with the local authorities and partners in central Quang Nam province.

ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT

Habitat calls for adequate, affordable housing at COP27

Screenshot of a Filipino family's new life after Typhoon Hai

Video screenshot, taken from From Habbitat for Humanity Philippines' Facebook page, of a Filipino family who rebuilt their home and lives after Typhoon Haiyan.

Nine years ago, Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) caused massive destruction in Philippines. More than 6,000 people died and 11 million people were left homeless. Habitat has these vulnerable populations in mind in urging delegates at the COP27 climate change conference to prioritize adequate and affordable housing, to achieve a net-zero future and meet the adaptation needs of human settlements.

Get involved

Drawing by Sithmi Ann from Habitat family in Sri Lanka

Sithmi Ann shared her picture of what happiness meant with the Habitat supporters who visited her family. Photo from Habitat Sri Lanka's Facebook page.

When Habitat supporters get excited about the cause of affordable housing, it is hard not to get involved.

Sri Lanka: led by a Habitat goodwill ambassador, a group of youth leaders traveled from Colombo to meet with a family in Katuwapitiya village and listen to their stories. Through another goodwill ambassador, e-commerce company Daraz is partnering with Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka to call for donations. To meet low-income families’ needs, contributions will provide for eco-friendly bricks or a sanitation unit or other products. Please donate.

Philippines: a vlogger pledges in a video to support adequate, affordable housing by donating 1,000 pesos (US$17) monthly to Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ Bahay ni Juan campaign.

Habitat Indonesia supporters with a homeowner during 28uild

Supporters with a homeowner during 28uild. Photo from Habitat Indonesia's Facebook page.

Indonesia: 300 youth volunteers recently joined the first in-person 28uild (“to build”) since the pandemic. They worked on 15 homes, and painted 32 houses, two schools and an educational center. Since 2012, more than 2,900 volunteers have joined 28uild.

OTHER

Annual report design recognition
Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong received recognition for the design of their fiscal year 2021 annual report in a ceremony last month. The "Citation for Design" award was presented by the Hong Kong Management Association.

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