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Habitat for Humanity Tanzania| Contact information | HFH Tanzania
Box 105506
Dar Es Salaam
Tanzania
Phone: +255 222461341
Fax: +255 222461340
E-mail: smetzel@hfhtanzania.org
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Tanzania -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
Why Habitat is needed in Tanzania
Tanzania is a predominantly rural country that is experiencing rapid urban growth, a high instance of poverty and poor housing conditions. The United Nations estimates that 89 percent of the population lives on less than US$2 per day.
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Typical housing in Tanzania.
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In rural Tanzania, most families own their homes, but the housing units are of very poor quality. Houses are typically constructed of mud walls, earthen floors and grass thatched roofs which last an average of seven to eight years. Most rural houses require significant maintenance and pose a serious health risk to the occupants.
Seventy percent of the urban population lives in informal and unplanned settlements. In addition to poor housing conditions, these settlement are overcrowded, have unhealthy water supplies, poor sanitation and minimal infrastructure.
There is a lack of a formal mortgage system in Tanzania, which makes home construction a difficult process. This particularly impacts the poor, who have difficulties gathering capital for large expenditures such as housing construction or home improvement.
How Habitat helps
Habitat for Humanity Tanzania has built more than 2,300 houses to date. In order to make a greater impact on the housing crisis, Habitat Tanzania is restructuring its program model. The new model will use housing microfinance to increase access to financing for the low-income population in Tanzania. Providing housing finance for home improvements instead of building new homes is projected to substantially improve in the overall housing environment.
Highlights
- Habitat for Humanity Tanzania began in 1986 in Kasulu. It then grew to include over 18 local Habitat affiliates which served all corners of the country.
- The new housing microfinance program is scheduled to launch in July 2009.
- As a result of focusing on housing finance, Habitat for Humanity Tanzania is no longer hosting Global Village or other special building events.
Facts about Tanzania
Location: East Africa
Population: 39.7 million
Languages: Kiswahili, English and local languages
Climate: Tropical along the coast to temperate in highlands
Religions: Islam and Christianity
Government: Republic
Economy: Agriculture, including coffee, cotton, tea and sisal
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