16 voices
Manuel, Honduras
Honduras, Manuel
Lives Saved, Home Lost
“The only thing I could do was get my daughter to safety,” Manuel thought when the flooding caused by Hurricanes Eta and Iota swept away his home in November 2020. At the time, his daughter Raquel was only four years old and entirely in his care, as she remains today. Now, his voice joins 15 others from a place of hope: his new home in the Brisas de Omoa community in northern Honduras. His testimony reflects Habitat for Humanity’s approach to post-disaster recovery.
“The hardest part was thinking that, after having a home, which means having everything, my daughter was going to be left with nowhere to live. Because I have always thought about her. Always. And that was very hard for me.”
Manuel has cared for his daughter since she was six months old. Together, they faced the loss of their home after the floods.
In the eye of the hurricanes
When the hurricanes struck, Manuel was living in the Ortega community in Omoa. In addition to being a devoted father, he was a community leader, so his first concern was helping his neighbors. At first, the floods, locally known as llenas, a term used to describe the rising of the river, did not directly affect his home. The first caused no damage. During the second, an earthen embankment gave way. The third brought down another, much larger embankment. By the fourth, landslides had put his home at risk. The fifth brought tragedy: the river overflowed, and the water rushed down with such force that it swept away several homes. Seven houses were completely destroyed and left uninhabitable. Manuel’s was one of them.
“I kept telling everyone else, ‘Get out,’ but I didn’t want to leave.”
Manuel still carries painful memories of the tragedy.
In addition to the terror of the moment, Manuel feared for his daughter, Raquel. She has been entirely in his care since she was six months old and has become the driving force in his life. After the disaster, she was deeply frightened and remained in a state of shock. Concerned about the possible lasting effects, Manuel closely monitored her emotional well-being. Over time, Raquel gradually regained her spirits and began to feel better. However, the loss of their belongings and their home made it difficult for Manuel to provide her with the same quality of life they had enjoyed before.
“When I lost my home, I cried. I honestly cried because I knew how much it had cost me. I had been allowed to pay for the lot in installments, and I had just finished paying it off. I had also finished repaying the bank loan I had taken out only about two months earlier. And then I lost everything.”
Habitat for Humanity distributed emergency kits following Hurricane Iota.
Life after the storm
After losing their home, Manuel and his daughter began a long journey without a place to call their own. They spent nearly six months in a temporary shelter set up in a school, followed by another six months in a home someone lent them. Without a home of their own, they were forced to rent, but the added expense made it difficult to meet the family’s other basic needs.
“Honestly, there were times when we went without food so we could pay the rent.”
Unable to continue paying rent, Manuel moved to the countryside. There, he found work as a caretaker on a piece of land, which temporarily provided him with a place to live without having to pay rent. He remained in this situation for several years, until Habitat for Humanity launched a project that would give him a new opportunity.
A ray of sunshine amid the rain
Even after losing his own home, Manuel continued advocating for the families in his community. Many had also been left without homes after the hurricanes. Although they reached out to various organizations and authorities for assistance, their efforts did not lead to tangible results for some time.
Later, Manuel spoke with the mayor, whom he had approached for support on several previous occasions. That was when he received the news:
“Habitat for Humanity is going to build you a home. They are an organization that will build a place where you and your daughter can live in peace. You won’t have to keep moving from one place to another.”
When he heard the news, Manuel jumped for joy. An interview was scheduled at the home where he was living at the time to begin the process. From that moment on, a new path of hope opened before him. Manuel was overjoyed, and his happiness doubled when he realized that his daughter shared in his excitement.
“When she found out, when Habitat for Humanity came to the house to interview me and she realized it was about my new home, she was so happy.”
Manuel emotionally recalls the moment he received his new home in March 2026. The handover took place during an event attended by community members and the mayor. It was a deeply moving occasion, and many of those present were brought to tears.
“At that moment, when they handed me the keys to my home, I remembered how my previous home had been destroyed, how the hurricanes had swept it away. Then I felt such emotion and joy, knowing that God was giving back to me what I had lost.”
A new life
Manuel and Raquel’s new home is part of the Safe Housing for Families Vulnerable to Climate Change project, implemented in Omoa, Cortés, in northern Honduras. Through the initiative, 32 homes were built for an equal number of families who, like Manuel’s, needed a safe place to live after losing everything during the hurricanes.
The homes were built through a joint effort by Habitat for Humanity, the local government, other humanitarian organizations and the community itself. Habitat provided the building materials, while the families contributed labor. Among the people who benefited from the project are many whom Manuel calls friends and neighbors and who, at last, have a place to call home.
“I know that my daughter has a decent home and, thank the Lord, I’m also surrounded by wonderful neighbors.”
Raquel and her father have been living for five months in a adequate home that meets their needs.
With a decent home, Manuel can now devote more resources to his daughter’s education and to growing his business selling ice cream and dairy products. He also lives in a safe community, where he can leave his motorcycle, his main work tool, outside with the peace of mind that it is secure. In his new surroundings, he has also strengthened his relationships with his neighbors and developed a true sense of community.
“What gives me the most strength is seeing my daughter grow up healthy and watching her gradually learn from the things her father teaches her.”
Manuel earns a living by selling dairy products, including ice cream. His priority is to use this income to support his daughter’s education.
Manuel’s story illustrates the challenges faced by those who lose their homes, but also the hope of finding a new place to call home and the joy of finally having one. As we mark our 50th anniversary, his voice joins the celebration of the Let’s Open the Door campaign. If you would like to support this project in Honduras, please donate through this link. You can also contact us to explore opportunities to collaborate as an individual or through your company.
“My message to mothers and fathers is not to give up and, above all, not to abandon their children. No matter how difficult things may be, there is always a way to move forward, because God is always with us. Turning away from a child brings hardship into the home, but embracing your children brings blessings to your family.”
