Habitat for Humanity began working in Guatemala in 1979 in response to the acute, long-term housing needs created by the magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck three years earlier. Today Habitat remains committed to partnering with communities in Guatemala and with local and international organizations to improve the lives of vulnerable families by removing the barriers that stand between them and a decent, healthy place to call home. Habitat for Humanity’s integrated, multisector approach in Guatemala places a special focus on water, sanitation and hygiene, or WASH; healthy housing; disaster risk reduction and response; housing finance; and housing rights and land tenure security.