Photo: Mother and daughter reading a book together, Uganda

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Habitat for Humanity Europe, Middle East and Africa

The latest housing updates

from Habitat for Humanity

Group of people pose for a photo

Housing as Climate Adaptation for the Urban Poor

Across Africa, millions of families living in informal settlements face growing climate risks, including floods, extreme heat, storms and other climate-related shocks. As governments and development partners seek scalable solutions, the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) Programme is emerging as a landmark initiative to strengthen resilience in some of the continent’s most vulnerable urban communities. 

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Group photo

Lessons from Africa: ADH-funded WASH for Food Security programme

After nearly 18 months of implementation across six African countries, the WASH for Food Security programme funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) through Habitat for Humanity Germany is generating valuable lessons that extend beyond individual country projects. Across six Habitat for Humanity National Offices in Africa, teams are testing different approaches to WASH, food security and climate resilience, while building a shared body of learning that can strengthen programmes across the region.

Read more
Group of people pose for a photo

Opening doors to decent housing in Tanzania: Building on 40 years of partnership and impact

For 40 years, Habitat for Humanity Tanzania has worked alongside multiple partners including communities, government, donors, civil society and the private sector to open doors to decent housing for more families in Tanzania. On September 30, these partners came together in Dar es Salaam to celebrate four decades of impact and look ahead to the next chapter of transforming lives through housing. The testimonies shared at the celebration highlighted the difference access to decent housing has made for families and communities. The celebration also marked Tanzania’s local activation of Habitat for Humanity’s global Let’s Open The Door campaign, bringing more people and partners together around a shared ambition: a Tanzania where every family has access to safe and decent housing.

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Stories from Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Photo: a women and two children from Zambia sitting on stairs in front of their house

Africa

In Africa we empower low-income people to build a better life for themselves and their children.

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Inside a flat in Lebanon - two girls and their mother reading a book together

The Middle East

Our mission in the Middle East is to build a safe and stable environment where families and communities can thrive. 

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mother and daughter from Ukraine

Europe

More and more people in Europe face problems to find a decent place to live. We help to make homes affordable.

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Press releases

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From Japan and New Zealand to Dobšiná: Nearly 20 volunteers will travel thousands of kilometres to support children in Slovakia

October 05, 2026

DOBŠINÁ/BRATISLAVA – October 2026 – Instead of taking a holiday, they are picking up work gloves, saws and paintbrushes – and dedicating a week to helping others. Nearly 20 volunteers from eight countries will travel to Dobšiná in early October to help renovate the premises of the Domček Parent Centre, which has been supporting children and families at risk of generational poverty for the past 13 years. The volunteers will come from as far away as Japan, New Zealand and Australia, as well as Denmark, Germany, Poland, Ireland and Croatia.

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woman and child looking out on the balcony

What do people give up to afford a home?

October 05, 2026

[BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — 5 October 2026] — A new Habitat for Humanity study finds that people around the world are cutting back on food, using savings and changing plans for the future to afford housing.Three in four people surveyed worldwide said they had cut at least one expense to afford housing. One in three spent less on food; nearly a third used savings or emergency funds, and 31% took on extra work. Nearly half, 48%, worry that one unexpected problem could threaten their housing security.

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rundown building

Habitat for Humanity joins Transforming Invisible Buildings project to advance affordable housing through building reuse

September 17, 2026

(BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – 17 September 2026) — Habitat for Humanity is contributing to the Transforming Invisible Buildings project, which has been underway since February 2026 and is helping cities turn vacant and underused buildings into affordable, energy-efficient homes. The partnership builds on Empty Spaces to Homes, our flagship initiative helping European cities put unused buildings to work for people who need a decent place to live. 

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All stories

little girl smiling

Happy and healthy in a Habitat home

The moment their Habitat for Humanity home was completed, Gabriela, Valentin and their 2-year-old daughter, Evelina moved in – even though it was Christmas Eve. “We were so excited to start the new year in our home,” says Gabriela. So excited, in fact, that the young family only brought a mattress and Christmas tree with them on move-in day.

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mother and daughter

Finding Laughter Again: Syrian Family's New Life in Jordan

  In 2012, Mustafa’s typical day as a cab driver in Syria took an abrupt turn. During a routine exchange with a passenger about the ongoing war, he made a passing jest about a statue of the Syrian president. This offhand remark led to his arrest and brutal imprisonment two days later.   

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Family

The Cretu family: building more than a home

In the modest embrace of their Holboca commune apartment, the Cretu family finds joy in the simple things: the children’s daily tales from school, shared meals, and laughter. Andreea, a nurse, and Marius, a construction worker, have built a life that honors commitment and love.

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people receiving prize

ComAct shortlisted for the EU Sustainable Energy Week Award

On September 26, 2022, ComAct partners participated in the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Award Ceremony after having been selected as one of the three finalists in the local energy action category. In total, twelve outstanding projects, chosen by an expert jury for their innovative approach to energy efficiency and renewables, have been competing in four categories.

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Ukrainian women sitting in the park in Warsaw

“Your house is your home.”

At the sound of sirens, three-year-old Marta ran to her mom and grandma’s side, begging them to help her get dressed and put her shoes on so she could run to the bomb shelter. But there was no need. The family was safe in Warsaw, Poland.

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europe-housing-forum

Join Europe Housing Forum 2021 online

The Europe Housing Forum 2021 takes place online on November 16-19, 2021. The importance of housing as a driver of economic growth and sustainability in human settlements will be one of the central discussions during the Forum. The Europe Housing Forum aims to bring together different stakeholders to discuss solutions to complex housing problems in the region. Sessions take place in the afternoons.

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woman-in-beirut

Rebuilding Beirut: Supporting the most vulnerable

A devastating blast ripped through the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020 destroying entire sections of the city. Officials estimate that more than 170,000 people live in homes that need to be reconstructed. A year later, investigation findings have not been disclosed and no one has been held accountable.  

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students

Generous Support in Difficult Times

The high school in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, usually volunteers with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program. With the COVID-19 pandemic going on, there was no way they could travel to the build site. Many students know how important a decent home to protect against diseases. They decided to raise and donate funds to Habitat for home construction. In these difficult times, the school collected 16,000 USD to support Habitat programs in Lebanon and India.

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woman and man in africa

2020 – Homes, Communities, Hope, You

Even as COVID-19 significantly impacted Habitat’s ability to build at full capacity — and likely will continue to do so in many locations well into 2021 — we still have seen great progress and positive results. In fiscal year 2020, we helped more than 5.9 million people build or improve a place to call home.

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Group of people pose for a photo

Housing as Climate Adaptation for the Urban Poor

Across Africa, millions of families living in informal settlements face growing climate risks, including floods, extreme heat, storms and other climate-related shocks. As governments and development partners seek scalable solutions, the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) Programme is emerging as a landmark initiative to strengthen resilience in some of the continent’s most vulnerable urban communities. 

Read more
Group photo

Lessons from Africa: ADH-funded WASH for Food Security programme

After nearly 18 months of implementation across six African countries, the WASH for Food Security programme funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) through Habitat for Humanity Germany is generating valuable lessons that extend beyond individual country projects. Across six Habitat for Humanity National Offices in Africa, teams are testing different approaches to WASH, food security and climate resilience, while building a shared body of learning that can strengthen programmes across the region.

Read more
Group of people pose for a photo

Opening doors to decent housing in Tanzania: Building on 40 years of partnership and impact

For 40 years, Habitat for Humanity Tanzania has worked alongside multiple partners including communities, government, donors, civil society and the private sector to open doors to decent housing for more families in Tanzania. On September 30, these partners came together in Dar es Salaam to celebrate four decades of impact and look ahead to the next chapter of transforming lives through housing. The testimonies shared at the celebration highlighted the difference access to decent housing has made for families and communities. The celebration also marked Tanzania’s local activation of Habitat for Humanity’s global Let’s Open The Door campaign, bringing more people and partners together around a shared ambition: a Tanzania where every family has access to safe and decent housing.

Read more