| Habitat For Humanity

Building Stability: Reshmi’s Journey and Nepal’s Bamboo Revolution

Nepal’s traditional bamboo homes have long left families vulnerable to floods, storms, and uncertainty—but a quiet transformation is underway. Through a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Hilti Foundation, Cement Bamboo Frame Technology is turning bamboo into a durable, disaster-resilient solution that’s reshaping communities. Reshmi’s story shows how one innovative home can unlock safety, opportunity, and lasting change.

Building Homes, Building Hope: wienerberger and Habitat for Humanity on a shared mission

Discover how wienerberger and Habitat for Humanity are partnering to build sustainable, affordable homes across Europe and beyond–empowering communities, improving lives, and shaping a better future through innovation and a shared purpose.

How a Common Material Is Quietly Changing Construction in India

India’s rivers are paying the price for its construction boom, with illegal sand mining deepening riverbeds and worsening floods. But a quiet revolution is underway—driven by M-sand, a sustainable alternative backed by local innovators and supported by the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS), an initiative led by Habitat for Humanity and supported by the Hilti Foundation. Together, they’re making it easier for families to build safe, affordable homes without harming the environment. With each new house built on M-sand, a more resilient and responsible future takes shape.

Turning empty spaces into homes 

Ana Carolina Gomes, Associate Director for Strategy and Operations at Habitat for Humanity International, is leading efforts to address the gap of over 30 million homes in Europe sitting vacant and 900,000 people being homeless each night. At the World Urban Forum organized by UN-Habitat in November 2024, she outlined Habitat for Humanity’s plan to repurpose vacant buildings—a strategy that combines social impact with environmental responsibility. The goal is to increase affordvble housing while also reducing carbon emissions. 

Unlocking Lithuania’s Renewable Energy Potential

Lithuania has made significant strides toward achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050, with renewable energy (RE) at the heart of this transition. However, while the country continues to expand its RE capacity, some key challenges remain—especially for homeowners in multi-family buildings. A recent study highlights how legal, financial, and informational barriers are slowing the adoption of small-scale renewable energy solutions, despite a growing interest in energy efficiency upgrades. The research is part of the SUNRISE project.

Bridging the Energy Gap

As Bulgaria continues to embrace renewable energy (RE) solutions, the differences in financial readiness, awareness, and willingness to invest between neighborhoods highlight the need for tailored approaches to energy transition. A recent assessment of two multifamily residential buildings—one in Zaharna Fabrika and another in Knyazhevo—provides valuable insights into the factors influencing RE adoption and the steps needed to bridge existing gaps. The research is part of the SUNRISE project.

Powering Homes with Solar Energy

As climate change continues to impact our planet, transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar power (PV) has never been more urgent. Not only do these sources help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also enhance energy independence. This is where the SUNRISE project comes in.

Unlocking the potential of empty spaces for housing and climate solutions

Last year, Habitat for Humanity International had the opportunity to participate in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Forum of Mayors in Geneva, Switzerland. This high-level event brought together representatives from 40 national governments, local authorities, and housing and climate experts from across the continent to explore sustainable urban solutions. We joined the forum to present one of our most transformative initiatives—Empty Spaces to Homes—a project that reimagines vacant buildings as a key part of solving Europe’s housing and climate crises.

Addressing Energy Poverty and Housing Shortages in Europe

Europe is facing a dual crisis—an escalating housing shortage and a pressing need to reduce carbon emissions. With over 900,000 people homeless each night and 30 million vacant homes across Europe, the paradox is striking: while many struggle without adequate shelter, millions of properties remain unused. At the same time, residential buildings account for 36% of CO₂ emissions and 40% of energy consumption in the EU.