HABITAT FACTS:
- Habitat began working in Guatemala in 1979.
- Individuals served in FY2021 – 33,665
- Through new construction– 6,885
- Through rehabs– 1,710
- Through incremental building -- 2,255
- Through repairs – 22,750
- Through professional services-- 65
- Volunteers hosted in FY2020 – 16,827
COUNTRY FACTS:
Capital city -- Guatemala City
Population – 17.36 million
Life expectancy – 74.3 years
Unemployment rate – 4.65%
Below poverty line -- 60%
The housing need in Guatemala
According to the National Policy for Housing and Human Settlements, the housing deficit in Guatemala exceeds 1.96 million homes, considering the significant number of families who rent or live in poor conditions including overcrowding.
In addition, there is a great need in rural areas for basic services such as safe drinking water, toilets, electricity, and smokeless stoves.
How Habitat addresses the need
Volunteer engagement
- Local: Volunteers from local committees promote community development and represent Habitat in their communities.
- National: People who have the desire to support families in the construction process form volunteer brigades. These groups can consist of unaffiliated individuals, educational institutions, businesses, organizations, embassies, individuals, and others.
- International: These are groups of between 12 and 16 international volunteers who donate their time and energy, typically for five days, eight hours a day. Without their support, low-income families would have to bear the cost of labor.
Financing for housing
Partnering with microfinance institutions, Habitat Guatemala provides more accessible financing services with fewer requirements for families compared to the traditional loans available in the national financial system. Families can afford to repay more easily in installments.
Safe homes
Habitat Guatemala partners with families to build, improve or repair their homes, meeting national and Habitat quality standards. Monitoring of the construction process by trained personnel is also offered. Quality materials and structural systems that comply with the rules of the Guatemalan Association of Structural Engineer and Institute of Cement and Concrete of Guatemala are used.
Improving living conditions
Through a program launched in 2010, Habitat Guatemala provides partial subsidies to communities and families in extreme poverty to access products that improve the quality of life, such as smokeless stoves, ventilated pit latrines, water filters, and sumps.
What you can do
DONATE
Donate at https://www.habitatguate.org/payment
VOLUNTEER
The Global Village program was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please go to habitat.org/gv for updates, including when and where the program will resume.
TITHE
Habitat affiliates in the U.S. can establish a tithe partnership to help build houses. Write GUATEMALA on checks sent to: Habitat for Humanity International, Attn: Affiliate Tithe, 322 West Lamar St., Americus, GA 31709
CONTACT
Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Las Américas Avenue, 9-50, zona 3, Supercom Delco Building, third floor, office 3, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, post office box: 373. Telephone: +502 79313131, [email protected], www.habitatguate.org
