HABITAT FACTS:
- Habitat began working in Nicaragua in 1984.
- Individuals served in FY2019 – 91,900
- Through new construction – 1,015
- Through incremental building -- 1,680
- Through repairs-- 855
- Through professional services -- 995
- Through market development– 87,355
COUNTRY FACTS:
Capital city -- Managua
Population – 6.3 million
Life expectancy – 74 years
Unemployment rate – 7.3%
Below poverty line – 31.9%
The housing need in Nicaragua
Nicaragua is one of the countries with the largest qualitative and quantitative housing deficits in the region. Some 20,000 new homes are needed per year, and more than half of existing homes are in need of basic services or improvements.
The total deficit includes 957,000 new housing and housing improvements.
Private sector efforts and public investment cover only 25% of the country’s needs each year, so the deficit continues to grow.
How Habitat addresses the need
Building services
Habitat Nicaragua works in partnership with other stakeholders for new home construction, progressive core modules, and infrastructure for water and sanitation.
Support services for housing
Habitat believes that the improvement of housing infrastructure must be accompanied by educational processes that strengthen the capacities of families to continue their housing improvements.
Currently, Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua provides training in financial education, safe housing, housing law and property ownership, as well as community learning about healthy housing.
Financial services
Habitat maintains a line of credit in microfinancing institutions to place microloans for housing improvements, with a building technical assistance service. This credit tool offers market rates, and the microloans are provided to families whose income is under US$800. In FY2016 we started out with US$1.1 million. Thanks to the help of affiliated microfinancing entities, so far more than US$4 million has been awarded, meaning that the fund has rotated three times, benefiting more than 700 families a year.
Volunteerism
Under its national and international volunteer strategy, Habitat Nicaragua has in the past 10 years mobilized national construction volunteers from high schools, universities, companies and social organizations in different initiatives to support the communities where we work.
What you can do
DONATE
If you’re interested in donating, visit: https://www.habitatnicaragua.org/inicio/donar-ahora/
TITHE
Habitat affiliates in the U.S. can establish a tithe partnership to help build houses. Quote NICARAGUA on checks sent to: Habitat for Humanity International, Attn: Affiliate Tithe, 322 West Lamar St., Americus, GA 31709
CONTACT
Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua, Managua, Residencial Los Robles. Alke Carretera Masaya, 100 mts west, 25 mts south. House #12. Post Office Box: #2236, Phone: 505-2270-1080 , habitat@habitatnicaragua.org, www.habitatnicaragua.org