Habitat for Humanity BrazilHabitat for Humanity Brazil -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
Mission
Habitat for Humanity Brazil works in partnership with God and people from all walks of life, to develop communities with people of low income by building and renovating houses, so that each person has adequate housing in their community, living and growing in all that God proposes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
History
Habitat’s work in Brazil began after an extended period of severe rain in December 1987, which displaced many families in the city of Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais, in the southeastern region of Brazil. With the support of Methodist Communitarian Center of São Gabriel quarter and the approval of a construction project of 100 homes, work officially began in 1992. Habitat for Humanity Brazil has now built over 3,400 homes in six different states throughout the country.
Housing need in Brazil
The figures concerning the housing situation in Brazil are staggering. In a recent note, Edesio Fernandez, a Brazilian academic and former senior staff member of the Ministry of Cities of Brazil, states that about 83 percent of Brazilians are reported to live in urban areas.
According to data from several sources, 26 million people living in urban areas do not have access to water, 14 million are not served by a trash collection service and 83 million are not connected to sewage systems.
The national housing deficit has been estimated at 7.2 million units. Even more alarming, the number of existing vacant properties has been estimated at 5.5 million units.
The greatest needs are in the northeast and southeast areas. In the cities, there is urban overcrowding and housing deterioration. It is estimated that more than 50 million people live in inadequate conditions. Most of these families have an income below the minimum wage, which equals about US$150/month.
Model Projects
Habitat for Humanity Brazil supports several initiatives, in addition to traditional home construction.
Hope Village
This project is a settlement upgrade involving 24 housing units. It is in phase two of an urban project in partnership with Dow Chemical and the municipality of Guaruja, for families living precariously on the banks of the Acarau River, without sewage, garbage collection or basic services. Seventy percent of the partner families are women-headed households.
Healthy homes in Varjada
This project is aimed at improving living conditions (housing, water and sanitation) of 150 families, or approximately 750 people. The project will train 150 families in financial literacy, self-help construction, and home ownership (maintenance, stewardship, being a good neighbor, etc.). It will also train 50 families in management of the rainwater cistern catchment system.
Financial Education
This project is aimed at educating and accompanying partner families in the planning and administration of their home economy. The manuals and methodology used are the result of a project designed by Habitat for Humanity International and financed by Citi Foundation. Through a series of workshops, families learn to administer their income and expenses, and learn to design a budget, analyze and control their expenses, and follow a savings plan. Families are also informed about the risks and advantages of taking out loans with Habitat for Humanity or other organizations.
Complete Houses
In addition to the projects above, Habitat for Humanity Brazil continues to build complete homes. Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, helping to build their houses and the houses of others, together with volunteers. Their monthly payments go into a Local Rotating Fund, which allows the construction of new homes.
|