Moisés (30), his wife, María (29) and their two children, Julissa (5), and Esdras (2), are the proud owners of a new Hybrid House, in the municipality of los Tablones, San José Chacayá, Sololá. Moisés works as a security guard and María takes care of the children and also weaves traditional clothes.
Moisés and his family are part of our new Hybrid House Program, which is a two room home built with a mix of traditional materials: adobe blocks, cement blocks, and wood.
Quick facts about the new Hybrid Home:
1. At just $3,300 USD, it costs less than half the price of a standard HFHG home.
2. The home is partially subsidized, acknowledging that the population we are serving does not have access to an income that would allow them to pay a mortgage. The family contributes sweat equity, creating the adobe blocks as well as participating in the construction of their new home.
3. The structure can be built in a time frame of approximately a two weeks.
4. This is a new effort to support the sector of the population that is living in the poorest conditions.
As previously explained, this solution is partially subsidized which means that beneficiary families are asked to contribute towards the cost of materials, provide unskilled labor such as preparing the adobe blocks, among other tasks.
Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Moisés mentioned that he and his family used to live in a house built out of metal sheets and a dirt floor. They lived this way for three years, and prior to that, they lived with his parents where they shared the house with seven other relatives. “The problem with our house that was built out of metal sheets, was that during the day we felt really hot and during the night it got much cooler,” says Moisés.
One day, Moisés received a visit from Habitat staff. He showed them his house and the way that they were living. The staff explained the program and that he was selected as one of the beneficiaries. “We are grateful, grateful to God too, because he put Habitat in our path, to help us,” Moisés mentions.
When asked how they feel with their new home, Moisés answers, “We feel happy and grateful for our house. We like all of it! Our children feel happy to play in here. We now have a place for them, to keep them warm and safe.” In the future, the family is planning to add a garden.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Moisés mentions, “These times have been complicated, we have had lack of work and other things, but having our house has made us feel safer. We have one thing less to worry about now, because this house is well built, we do not have to worry about the rain, cold or sun. Our floor is no longer made of dirt.”
Moisés finishes by sharing a message to the donors, “We are grateful to all of the donors that supported us in building our home! We may not know you, but we thank you! May God bless you. Be safe and receive many blessings in your work and to your families.”
