VELUX, Habitat help 200 socially deprived families in Bulgaria
Bratislava (September 29, 2015) – The VELUX Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria have disbursed more than 200 incremental housing loans in the first year of a five-year program. The project, aimed at improving housing conditions for families with small children who live in poverty, operates in four municipalities across the country.
”More than 40 percent of Bulgaria’s population is socially deprived,” said Mincho Benov, director of Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria. “Bad housing poses risks for health and wellbeing of children.” An EU health study found that poor housing leads to higher rates of Measles, Hepatitis A and infectious diseases among youth and children.
Another important aspect of the five-year program is the VELUX Foundation’s goal to provide better homes for at least 7,500 children. During the loan approval process, preference is given to families who have children in school or pre-school classes.
With the funds from the VELUX Foundation, Habitat for Humanity offers loans to renovate and upgrade living conditions. Distributed through community based facilitators in municipalities, the average 10-12 month no interest loans range between 200- 450. Once families pay back the loan, they can reapply. This helps them incrementally improve their homes.
“We ensure the sustainability of the program by helping families help themselves,” commented Benov. “We believe that by providing small loans we can help families fix their homes and gain important life skills. In addition, we provide family budgeting and home maintenance trainings.”
The VELUX Foundation and Habitat Bulgaria program is running in four municipalities and has helped improve living conditions for 331 children. The remaining four years of the program will focus on disbursing home-improvement microloans in four municipalities and expanding into more municipalities and communities in need through local partners in the country.
About the Velux Foundations
THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS are comprised of the two non-profit foundations VILLUM FONDEN and VELUX FONDEN. Among our grant areas are natural, technical, health and human sciences. We also support environmental, social and cultural purposes in Denmark and internationally.
In 2014, the two foundations gave joint donations of approx. 150 million EUR for non-profit purposes. Both foundations were created by Villum Kann Rasmussen–the founder of VELUX and other companies in the VKR Group, whose mission it is to bring daylight, fresh air and a better environment into people’s everyday lives. To learn more about The Velux Foundations visit veluxfoundation.dk.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit www.habitatemea.org.