Improving housing through partnership

Habitat for Humanity Egypt works with five local partners to identify the most vulnerable families and provide small loans for home repairs. We build the capacity of community-based organizations and local committee volunteers through training in microfinance portfolio management and ongoing support for the local community.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

We contribute to sustainable communities through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects that target more than 300 families in rural areas. We train health workers to address WASH issues and engage household members and local committee members to improve hygiene standards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, awareness-raising campaigns significantly contributed to the overall health of target communities.

Housing support services

Habitat Egypt provides technical support, such as advice on decent housing standards that contribute to health, safety and security. Our team of specialized engineers oversees projects and supervises labor and implementation, upholding international quality standards and Habitat’s building codes.

Volunteer engagement

We facilitate volunteer opportunities by organizing build camps for youth, where they can experience construction and understand their role in building better communities.

Climate adaptation

By focusing on informal settlements inclusively, our project aims to influence policymakers to integrate climate-resilient solutions and provide basic services. We emphasize efficient, innovative financing for adequate housing to support policy directives in upgrading informal settlements. To address urban heat island effects, we help households adapt to adverse climatic conditions through small-scale interventions. Our goal is to empower residents of selected informal settlements by establishing a local community of practice that raises awareness of climate resilience and builds on existing local adaptation practices.

To find out more, visit www.habitategypt.org and www.facebook.com/HabitatEgypt.

Shelter rehabilitation

Through its shelter rehabilitation interventions, Habitat for Humanity supports both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian households. We prioritize vulnerable groups such as female-headed households, older adults and families with persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation work improves the living conditions of families, directly impacting their health, safety, security and general well-being. To strengthen social cohesion within the communities it serves, Habitat has identified and rehabilitated essential community infrastructure in some neighborhoods and upgraded access to basic services and facilities in medical, community and childcare centers as well as schools and public spaces.

Working with local community-based organizations

Habitat Jordan provides access to microloans that help low-income families build, rehabilitate or repair their homes. We offer training and capacity-building services to community-based organizations in marginalized neighborhoods who in turn manage the loans and support families in their rehabilitation efforts.

Green, affordable housing

We implement green housing solutions that help ease the energy and water shortages in a country grappling with these issues. The application of green building designs, techniques and materials raises awareness of green, affordable housing, enhances the knowledge and skills of laborers and communities, and empowers them to pursue new work opportunities.

Volunteer opportunities

Habitat Jordan welcomes volunteer groups from various parts of the world, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. We also foster a volunteering culture among Jordanian youth by working with local schools and encouraging students over 16 to participate in building and home rehabilitation efforts with low-income families.

Housing microfinance program

Since 2001, Habitat has responded to the widespread but unmet shelter and housing needs of low-income families through various projects. Habitat Lebanon ran a housing microfinance program offering microloans to people who would otherwise not have access to credit. Habitat’s programming prioritized female-headed households and households with members who have disabilities, with subsidized loans and repayment schedules adjusted to their financial circumstances.

Responding to the Syrian refugee crisis

In 2017, Habitat began rehabilitating houses in marginalized neighborhoods for vulnerable Lebanese and non-Lebanese families. By introducing repairs to elevate home standards and enhance service access, they prioritized female-led households and those with older adults or members who have disabilities. Habitat’s actions aimed to improve WASH facility access and increase home safety and security.

School repairs

This program was designed to help public schools absorb more school-aged refugees into the formal system through renovated schools that ran second shifts to accommodate children from refugee families.

Response to Beirut port blast

In partnership with official bodies and Catholic Relief Services, Habitat addressed damage in two neighborhoods affected by the blast. They repaired cracks, leaks, doors, windows and damaged WASH facilities, assisting 206 families and 25 businesses during pandemic lockdowns. To promote community cohesion, Habitat organized workshops to identify communal projects enhancing neighborhood security. Using the International Federation of the Red Cross’ Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter Awareness, communities launched projects introducing street lighting, rectifying hazardous cables and refurbishing facades.