Home is the foundation on which we build our lives.
But every day 1 in 3 people around the world wake up without the security of safe affordable housing.
We’re working to change that. We know safe, affordable housing sparks wider change, leading to better health, education and well-being, more economic growth, and less poverty.
Through hands-on builds, compelling new research and powerful storytelling, we’re bringing housing to the center stage at a global scale. It all starts with an open door.
What is the full cost of home?
From financial stress to missed opportunities, housing pressure affects nearly every aspect of life. Explore Home at What Cost?, Habitat’s new global housing report, to uncover the hidden costs of housing shaping people’s well-being, safety and future plans.
50 voices across Asia-Pacific
Meet the people behind 50 Voices across Asia-Pacific and learn how housing has changed lives, empowered communities and inspired action in this region. Hear from homeowners, volunteers, young leaders, partners, donors and staff whose lives have been transformed by the power of home.
For over two decades, Eunjin Kim has been donating regularly to Habitat Korea, inspiring her children and others. Long-term supporters play a key role in powering Habitat’s mission. “When we think of a miracle, we often think of something grand. For me, a miracle is when countless small drops of perspiration come together and a home is built. And it is so rewarding because a home is tangible,” said Eunjin.
More than 20 years on, Jungbae and his family are still living in the same home they built with Habitat in Korea. The difference: he is living a happier life. He also volunteers with the civic police and local fire brigade. “My hope is for my family to stay healthy, for my children to marry good partners and live happy lives, and for my spouse and me to grow old happily in this home.”
The revitalization of Tanjung Kait, a coastal informal settlement in Indonesia, called for a community-centered approach and complex cross-sector collaboration. Komariyah’s family is among 107 families who finally have a safe, secure home. She said, “A house is essential. It’s where we live, a shelter from heat, rain, and wind. It’s a place that protects us.”
Dan Peyton, head of impact and engagement at Habitat for Humanity Australia, has spent more than a decade helping connect people to Habitat’s mission through fundraising, volunteering and partnerships. “When people have a safe place to live and a thriving community around them, they’re empowered to use their strengths to build better futures for themselves and others,” he said.
Since the 1990s, Warren Jack has seen better housing standards, tighter regulations and an expanded community housing sector in New Zealand. Yet housing affordability is now a major issue. As one of the longest-serving figures with Habitat for Humanity, he has seen why a decent home matters. “The impact on the families we serve is huge and is passed on inter-generationally.”
Over the last two decades, Minh Cao Le has moved from build sites in Vietnam to regional leadership roles across Asia-Pacific. Along the way, he has seen families build their lives on the foundation of safe, affordable homes. “The door to a better future often begins with the door to a safe home,” he says.
Alvin Liew started as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Singapore working alongside tsunami-hit families. Then he contributed as a board member and now as acting board chair and treasurer. He learned early on that a home is more than four walls and a roof: it is the foundation on which we build our lives.
