Guatemala

HABITAT FACTS

Date when Habitat started working in the country
1979

Individuals served in FY17
54,715

Volunteers hosted in FY17
26,368

Housing solutions
New, rehab, repairs, incremental

Habitat for Humanity Guatemala

Habitat for Humanity Guatemala is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the quality of life of Guatemalan families by partnering with them to construct, incrementally improve or repair homes across the country.
For more information, visit: www.habitatguate.org/eng.

The housing need in Guatemala

According to the Central American Association for Housing (Asociación Centroamericana para la Vivienda - ACENVI), the housing deficit in Guatemala exceeds 1.6 million households, including inadequate, rented and overcrowded housing. In addition, the need for basic services such as drinking water, sanitation, electricity and safe stoves in rural areas is very high.

Habitat’s contribution in Guatemala

Habitat Guatemala has contributed to the reduction of 4.6 percent of the country’s housing deficit, both qualitative and quantitative. Our commitment is that all Guatemalans have a decent place to live. Since its inception, Habitat Guatemala has helped more than 100,000 families with new home construction, incremental home improvements or repairs.

Volunteerism

1. Local: These are volunteers from local committees who promote community development and represent Habitat in their communities.
2. National construction: These are groups of people who have the desire to support families in the construction process. This opportunity is open to educational institutions, businesses, organizations, embassies, individuals, etc.
3. International construction: These are groups of between between 8 and 80 international volunteers who donate their time and energy, typically for ve days, eight hours a day. Without their support, the families might have to bear the cost of unskilled labor.

Financing for housing

Funding for families is more accessible than the traditional one found in the national financial system, with affordable installments, few requirements and ease of payments.

Healthy homes

Habitat Guatemala helps families to build, improve or repair their homes, meeting national quality standards and those proposed by Habitat for Humanity International. Monitoring of the construction process by trained personnel is also offered. Quality materials and structural systems that comply with the rules of AGIES (Guatemalan Association of Structural and Seismic Engineering) and ICCG (Institute of Cement and Concrete of Guatemala) are used.

Extreme poverty

This program supports communities and families living in extreme poverty by providing partial subsidies to access products that improve their quality of life. These include: improved stoves, ventilated pit latrines, water purifiers, water filters and training to prepare families for homeownership.

Meet a Habitat family

Ramón and Bianca are a couple living in Culiapa, Santa Rosa. He works as an independent merchant and she works in the community hospital. Their partnership with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala enabled them to build a decent home. Bianca summarizes the experience as follows:

“When we visited the office in Cuilapa, they showed us several house designs that met our needs at an affordable cost. Our hearts were filled with joy when we were informed about the date to start the construction of our house, because we never imagined doors would open so fast for us. 

“We have shared the house with our parents for several years; however, with our new baby we want privacy. We were concerned for not being able to provide him a decent place to live, but now this is possible thanks to Habitat. We want him to live in a safe place and have a nice place to grow.

“We are a young couple with many dreams and receiving this help is a blessing from God. We are very grateful with the volunteers, marvelous persons who work sincerely and with good will. We are hopeful, because with their help the construction time is reduced, and we will soon move to our new home. Our dream is coming true.”

What can you do?

We build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. You can help us do it with the following actions:

Donate: https://www.habitatguate.org/payment/
www.habitatguate.org

Volunteer: Join one of Global Village’s scheduled trips to Guatemala or organize your own brigade.
For more information, go to: habitat.org/gv/catalog/lac
 

HABITAT’S OFFICE

To learn more about Habitat’s programs in Guatemala, please contact:

Victor Velasquez / National Director
Phone: 47406639, e-mail: vvelasquez@habitatguate.org

Steven Cook / Resource Development Director
Phone: 47406732, e-mail: donor@habitatguate.org