#1MillonDreamsFulfilled

Abril 15 on 24, 2024

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History

We are a non-profit organization that works to ensure that all people live in decent housing. We have been working since 1979, improving the quality of life of families.
We address the quantitative housing deficit through the construction of new homes, the qualitative through the improvement of existing homes, we also serve people in extreme poverty through projects such as the Healthy Kit and offer technical assistance through training.
We have 45 years of experience in the construction of social housing, in which more than 165 thousand families have been associated with Habitat Guatemala to improve their living conditions, which means a direct contribution in reducing the housing deficit by 8.49%.

Our coverage is nationwide, through our 26 offices, which are located in the main departmental capitals and attend to the needs of the families. In addition, we have national offices in Quetzaltenango and Ciudad Capital, which have direct relationships with volunteers and donors.
We partner with Guatemalan families to improve their quality of life through social financing, which covers the full cost of a home, rehabilitation or improvements; families receive construction materials and skilled labor, never cash, thus guaranteeing transparency in the execution of each of our programs.
Likewise, our programs involve training (Financial Education, Disaster Risk Management, Home Construction, Stoves and Latrines, Nutritional Recipes, Hygiene, Health and Self-Esteem), thus guaranteeing integral development.

Our homes are built with high quality materials and a seismic-resistant system to ensure the safety of the families who live in them, and the construction is supervised by experts and is done on safe sites.
Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice you can support the cause of affordable housing, because everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-sufficiency they need to build a better life for themselves.

Benefits of the initiative – 1 million dreams fulfilled

According to studies by the National Association of Home Builders – ANACOVI, the total housing deficit (observing the ECLAC methodology, which includes the lack of basic services), in Guatemala amounts to 2,237,957 million homes with some deficiency in minimum conditions of habitability. Likewise, the XII National Population Census and VII Housing Census, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics – INE, in 2018, shows that, of the 3,179,595 homes censused, 843,958 have dirt floors (27%… 1 out of every 4 homes in our country).

Undoubtedly, dirt floors and inadequate housing are a primary indicator that limits development in our population, puts health at risk, leading to gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, due to the amount of pathogens that can harbor, and, which are harmful especially for children.

For more than 45 years, we have called on people to build homes, communities and hope for families living in vulnerable conditions. This has been possible thanks to the support of strategic allies, companies, institutions and volunteers committed to the development of the country.

As part of our work, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala will celebrate “1 million dreams fulfilled”, an activity that aims to continue transforming the lives of Guatemalan families through a week-long construction brigade (4 complete houses and 15 concrete floors will be built to improve people’s health and quality of life).

The construction of floors will contribute to the regional initiative 100 thousand floors to play with, which is part of the Pisos S³ program of the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM). This initiative aims to replace 100,000 dirt floors with concrete in vulnerable housing in Latin America and the Caribbean within five years (by 2028). The pilot program was developed in Guatemala during 2021 as a model for regional scaling.

In addition to this, we will have various activities, with the objective of continuing to strengthen our alliances and that together we can share and celebrate the achievements reached during all these years.

Family Profiles

Brenda’s Family

Brenda, a 27-year-old single mother, currently lives with her daughter at her mother’s house. The need for housing for Brenda and her daughter is urgent because her daughter is growing up and she sees the need for her daughter to have a safe place to live. Brenda is currently working, but her income is not enough to be able to build, she has sought support from other institutions, but it has been complicated for her to receive it. Due to her current situation, she asks Habitat for Humanity Guatemala for help, she is willing to support in everything necessary to make her dream come true.

Carmen’s Family

Carmen has lived with her husband and three children in the Prados de Canaán community for 11 years, the house where she lives is made of sheet metal walls and roof, they live humbly, but they are very hard workers. Doña Carmen makes tortillas and her children go out to sell them, so they can make ends meet for the week. Her husband is a pilot, so his work is occasional, but Doña Carmen counts on his support and the support of her young children. They are willing to help with whatever is needed to build their house.

Maria Elena’s family

María Elena has lived with her son Jounner Cristofher for years in the community of Prados de Canaán, Agua Caliente, San Antonio La Paz. The lack of job opportunities has made her migrate many times to the Capital City, but she has always had simple and poorly paid jobs, dedicating herself on several occasions to street sales, it has always been very difficult to find stability. The conditions of the house they live in affect their health very much, currently the family has an income of Q800 per month.

They have always struggled to improve the quality of their housing, however, due to the economic situation and the lack of employment opportunities, it has been difficult to achieve a sustained change. She currently shares the land with her son, who says she is willing to give all her support to give her mother a better quality of life, so that they can achieve their lifelong dream of having a decent home.

Yolanda’s family

Yolanda, lives with her husband and 3 daughters for approximately 25 years in the community of Prados de Canaán, Agua Caliente San Antonio La Paz. She is a housewife and her husband Daniel works as a day laborer, their income is approximately Q1000 per month. They have always struggled to improve the quality of their home, however, due to the economic and employment situation it has always been difficult to achieve. Currently, she shares the land with her daughter Karen, who says she is willing to give her consent to build a house for her mother. They are willing to support whatever the foundation requests in order to achieve their lifelong dream of having a decent home.