From September 28 to October 3, the employees of the VKR Group, a Danish holding and investment company in the building industry, came together for a truly inspiring initiative—the Donate Your Steps walking challenge, organized by the Employee Foundation of the VKR Group to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission to provide safe and decent homes for families in need.
More than seven thousand Romani, colloquially referred as Roma, consider Lunik IX district in Kosice, their home. Tucked in the southwestern suburb of Slovakia’s second largest city, the isolated and neglected ghetto is one of Europe’s largest Roma slums.
Enida, 30, was born just before the outbreak of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She grew up in a one-room household on a hilltop of Baščaršija, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Sarajevo, with her brother and parents. For 23 years, the family occupied a 25 square meter space with one window and no dedicated bathroom nor kitchen.
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.
Bratislava (July 15, 2024) - Habitat for Humanity and the leading philanthropic foundation called Laudes Foundation are proud to announce a transformative three-year partnership aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of social housing and climate change through a flagship regional project devoted to renovating and repurposing vacant spaces into homes.
Kyiv, Ukraine (September 9, 2024) – Habitat for Humanity, a global leader in affordable housing and community development, is proud to announce the official opening of its new branch in Ukraine. This expansion comes at a crucial time as the nation faces an unprecedented need for housing reconstruction and development following the ongoing war and displacement. The new branch will focus on providing safe, affordable housing, rebuilding damaged homes, and enhancing community resilience through local partnerships and advocacy for effective housing policies. It will prioritize the most vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and low-income families, and will work closely with local NGOs, private sector, and local authorities to ensure that reconstruction efforts align with sustainable development goals.
Vulnerable groups often face poverty and exclusion, even in the developed countries of Europe. Whole communities are deprived of opportunities and pushed to the margins of society.
Read some of the most frequently asked questions regarding volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity invites companies, corporations, and foundations to join its global mission of eliminating poverty housing. A growing number of Habitat’s corporate and foundation partners build with the organization or invest resources into creating simple, decent and affordable homes where they are sorely needed.