Habitat for Humanity arrives in Bratislava

BRATISLAVA (September 18, 2007) -- Housing non-governmental organization Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Europe and Central Asia regional office has begun its move from Budapest to the Slovak capital, joining other development associations such as the Canadian International Development Agency, United Nations Development Programme and World Bank.

The move from Budapest to Bratislava started in July and will be completed by the end of September when the office in Budapest will close. At that time, all operations for HFH ECA will continue from Bratislava.

The HFH ECA office opened in Budapest in 2001, where it oversees and supports the operations of 20 Habitat for Humanity national organizations throughout the region, from Ireland to Kyrgyzstan. HFH Hungary, also based in Budapest, will not be affected by the area office’s move and will continue to serve families in need throughout the country.

Slovakia is one of 19 countries that Habitat builds in throughout Europe and Central Asia (ECA). There are six focus countries in ECA, including Slovakia, Romania, Macedonia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Habitat for Humanity has been working in partnership with ETP Slovakia-Center for Sustainable Development, a local Slovak Partner, to help disadvantaged groups including the Roma (Gypsy) population since 2004. To date, more than 900 people have been helped by this program. The Habitat/ETP program works to renovate basic shacks and improve access to clean water and basic sanitation for entire communities. Habitat and ETP work on a project-by-project basis.

The decision to relocate the area office from Budapest to Bratislava was made in part due to high taxes on expatriates’ salaries; money that could be more appropriately spent on supporting Habitat projects in Europe and Central Asia. HFH ECA currently has 31 staff, 29 of whom are based in the Budapest office. Almost two-thirds of the ECA staff is from outside Hungary.

“Habitat for Humanity has benefited from the skilled and dedicated local and international staff that has contributed to the mission of the organization for the past six years,” said Don Haszczyn, ECA area vice president for Habitat for Humanity. “The work we have accomplished while operating out of Budapest has helped thousands more families in the region move into simple, decent and affordable homes. We are grateful for the support we have received here and look forward to continued success in our mission in our new location.”

Habitat for Humanity works to eliminate poverty housing worldwide by working with partner families to build low-cost, affordable housing. Since the founding in 1976, HFH has become a global leader in addressing substandard housing by helping more than one million people of all races, faiths and backgrounds to have a simple, decent place to live. Habitat has built or renovated more than 200,000 homes throughout the world.

Habitat will host a press conference and photo exhibit at the Hotel Danube in Bratislava on October 1st to announce its presence. The photo exhibit will be open to the public from October 1st to October 19.

The new address for the permanent office in Bratislava is:

Zochova 6 - 8, 811 03 Bratislava
Slovak Republic

For more information, please contact:

In Habitat for Humanity Area Office in Budapest (until September 28): Dominique Schärer, dscharer@habitat.org , +361-411-2170

In Habitat for Humanity Area Office in Bratislava (from October 1st): Eddie Byrd, +421 2 52 49 80 10