HABITAT FACTS:
- Habitat began working in Nicaragua in 1984.
- Individuals served in FY2021 – 48,180
- Through new construction – 285
- Through incremental building -- 1,095
- Through repairs-- 455
- Through professional services -- 360
- Through market development– 45,985
COUNTRY FACTS:
Capital city -- Managua
Population – 6.3 million
Life expectancy – 74 years
Unemployment rate – 5%
Below poverty line – 14.6%
The housing need in Nicaragua
Nicaragua has one of the largest qualitative and quantitative housing deficits in the Latin America and Caribbean region with a backlog of 957,000 units, according to the Chamber of Developers of Nicaragua.
Each year, about 20,000 new homes are required and more than half of existing homes need basic services or improvements. Private-sector efforts and public investment meet only 25% of the country’s needs each year, so the deficit continues to grow.
How Habitat addresses the need
Safe, stable homes
Habitat Nicaragua works in partnership with various stakeholders to reduce the housing deficit through new home construction and progressive home improvements, construction of core housing that can be expanded as families’ resources permit, water and sanitation solutions, repairs, and expansions.
Support services for housing
Habitat believes in strengthening the capacity of families to continue their housing improvements. Currently, we provide training in financial education, safe housing, climate change, 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 provide microloans for housing improvements with construction technical assistance. The microloans at market rates are provided to families with a monthly income of below US$800.
Volunteer engagement
Over the past 10 years, Habitat Nicaragua has mobilized national construction volunteers from high schools, universities, companies, and social organizations through different initiatives to support the communities where we work.
What you can do
SUPPORT
Please contact us at [email protected] and our team will respond with information on ways you can support Nicaraguan families.
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 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 , [email protected], www.habitatnicaragua.org
