HABITAT FACTS:
- Habitat began working in Guatemala in 1979.
- Individuals served in FY2019 – 88,125
- Through new construction– 9,510
- Through housing rehabilitation– 2,500
- Through the incremental building -- 4,175
- Through repairs – 41,990
- Through professional services-- 355
- Through market development– 29,595
- Volunteers hosted in FY2019 – 24,741
COUNTRY FACTS:
Capital city -- Guatemala City
Population – 17.2 million
Life expectancy – 73.9 years
Unemployment rate – 2.8%
Below poverty line -- 60%
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 safe drinking water, toilet, electricity and safe stoves in rural areas is very high.
How Habitat addresses the need
Volunteerism
- Local: These are volunteers from local committees who promote community development and represent Habitat in their communities.
- National construction: These are groups of people who have the desire to support families in the construction process. Volunteer brigades can consist of unaffiliated individuals, educational institutions, businesses, organizations, embassies, individuals, and others.
- International construction: 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, the families would have to bear the cost of unskilled labor.
Financing for housing
Funding for families is more accessible than the traditional loans available in the national financial system, with affordable installments, few requirements and ease of payments.
Healthy homes
Habitat Guatemala supports 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 Engineer) and ICCG (Institute of Cement and Concrete of Guatemala) are used.
Extreme poverty
Launched in 2010, the support program for communities and families in extreme poverty offers partial subsidies to access products that improve quality of life, such as improved stoves, ventilated pit latrines, water purifier filters and sumps.
What you can do
DONATE
You can donate by going to: https://www.habitatguate.org/payment
VOLUNTEER
Join one of Global Village’s scheduled trips to Guatemala or organize your own brigade. For more information, go to: www.habitat.org/gv/catalog/lac
TITHE
Habitat affiliates in the U.S. can establish a tithe partnership to help build houses. Quote GUATEMALA on checks sent to: Habitat for Humanity International, Attn: Affiliate Tithe, 322 West Lamar St., Americus, GA 31709
CONTACT
Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, Avenida las Américas, 9-50, zona 3, Supercom Delco Building, third floor, office 3, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, post office box: 373. Telephone: 79313131, involucrate@habitatguate.org, www.habitatguate.org