16 voices
Juan Pablo, Guatemala
Guatemala, Juan Pablo
The relevance of being a homeowner
When Juan Pablo was building his house, he made a special effort to turn the bathroom into a pleasant space. In his own words, the bathroom in the place where he used to live reminded him of Shrek’s swamp, the home of the ogre from DreamWorks’ film franchise. Today, his voice comes to us from the house that once existed only in his dreams but has now become a reality. He and his mother, María del Carmen, can proudly call themselves homeowners. His story represents the families who have worked side by side with us to build and pay for their homes, people who simply needed an opportunity to open the door.
“I wanted to put everything I could into it so that when you’re in the bathroom, you feel comfortable and can say, ‘It’s so nice, it turned out beautifully.’ The best shower, the nicest little cabinet. And for it to smell good, too! And the kitchen, so my mom can be comfortable as well, both of us, really. So we can live comfortably and peacefully.”
Juan Pablo and his mother, María del Carmen, in the kitchen of their new home.
The Dream of Homeownership
In several countries around the world, we provide mortgage loans to families in need of adequate housing. It was a friend of Juan Pablo’s, who lives in the United States, who first told him about this opportunity and encouraged him to reach out to Habitat for Humanity. Becoming homeowners was a dream shared by Juan Pablo and his mother. Although she had purchased a piece of land years earlier, they had not yet built on it. In San Bartolomé Milpas Altas, Guatemala, and with support from the Building Together program, they were able to construct their home.
“I feel that what really sparked me was having something of my own, something for the future, a place where I could feel at peace […]. Where I was living before, I couldn’t make decisions because it wasn’t mine. What motivated me was also fulfilling dreams, the dream we all have of owning a home.”
Homeownership is about much more than having a physical asset. It is also a source of self-esteem and personal fulfillment. As Juan Pablo explains:
““I feel proud of myself because I can say, ‘It happened. I was able to make my mother’s dream come true. She’s safe in a beautiful and pleasant place, and the neighborhood is much more peaceful.’”
Juan Pablo and María del Carmen on the day they received their home. “Once you have a home of your own, it becomes easier to dream of other things, because owning a home is the dream everyone has. So whatever comes after having your own home feels like smaller goals, right?” Juan Pablo says.
Improved Living Conditions
For Juan Pablo, the greatest challenge of not having a home of his own was the lack of freedom it imposed. He could not make changes or invest in improvements that would enhance his quality of life. The roof was inadequate, yet there was nothing they could do about it. In addition, their home was located in a noisy area and frequently experienced water shortages.
As the time to move into their new house approached, Juan Pablo and his mother could hardly wait. Now, in a space that belongs to them, they feel motivated to keep investing in their home and their future.
“In this neighborhood, it feels like there’s more peace. We’re surrounded by more nature and have greater comfort. In our previous house, there was no running water. Here, thank God, we have water twenty-four hours a day. We can shower whenever we want with hot water, and we’re much more comfortable. Our basic services are readily available. It wasn’t like that where we lived before. And it’s nice to say, ‘Oh, we need this. Let’s buy it for the house. Let’s put something here.’ It’s a wonderful feeling, and I believe God has even greater things in store for us.”
Juan Pablo in the living room of his new home, where he can comfortably watch television.
A Loan as an Opportunity to Own a Home
Our offices in Guatemala offer a range of housing models and payment plans designed to be inclusive of families who face barriers to accessing traditional financing. We provide fixed-rate mortgages with terms of up to twelve years and offer twelve different housing models tailored to a variety of needs. Through our offices located throughout the country, we focus on delivering quality service and personalized support to these families.
“I think what stood out to me was how easy it was to get a loan. The process was simple and fast, the repayment period isn’t too long, right? And the monthly payments are affordable, too.”
The loan also includes guidance throughout every stage of the construction process. At Habitat, we value not only the completion of a home but also ensuring that it meets the quality standards needed to become a safe and adequate place for a family to live.
For Juan Pablo, the construction process became one of the greatest joys of his life. He tells us that he still treasures the photos from the beginning of the project and remembers how he gradually built relationships with the construction workers. Once the house was completed, he hosted a barbecue for them as a gesture of gratitude for helping make the dream of his heart come true. For him, building the home was also a learning experience, supported every step of the way by Habitat’s experts.
“They were always advising me because they referred me to people to build the house, and they were excellent. I felt supported by them. I felt confident saying, ‘Well, the builders told me this is what needs to be done. Yes, this is what needs to be done.’ So, basically, I felt they were with me throughout the construction process.”
Some of the housing models offered in Guatemala. “I think my mother also dreamed of having a house like the models Habitat offers. She used to keep a picture hanging on the wall of the house where we lived, and it looks very similar to Habitat’s housing models.”
Our affordable housing loan program operates in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Paraguay. It serves a segment of the population that can afford a mortgage but is often excluded from conventional housing finance due to high monthly payments, restrictive requirements, or excessively long repayment periods. These efforts recognize that, with hard work, responsibility, and access to good opportunities, families can improve their housing conditions and, in turn, their quality of life.
“For our generation, I think owning a piece of land is extremely difficult, and owning a house is even more so. I have friends who live in gated communities or other neighborhoods, and it’s very complicated because of the payments and the time commitment. I don’t think it’s accessible to everyone.”
The funds generated through these mortgages allow us to continue lending to other families and to help finance programs that serve people living in extreme poverty. In this way, we maintain the spirit of a nonprofit organization while operating a strong and sustainable model that can continue creating impact over time.
“I feel trust, trust because Habitat is backed by years of experience, not only here in Guatemala but around the world. That’s what they convey: trust.”
Let’s Open the Door to Opportunity
In Guatemala, Habitat for Humanity helps a family achieve homeownership every five minutes. Juan Pablo’s voice speaks on behalf of the many families who have found hope through this service and have been able to build the future they dreamed of. Let’s open open the door to opportunity for these families. If you are interested in supporting our work in Guatemala, you can help through a donation or by contacting us to explore opportunities for collaboration, either personally or through your company.
“Together, we build dreams; together, we build achievements; together, we build aspirations that begin in our minds but also live in our hearts.”
