Guatemala

HABITAT FACTS:

Habitat began working in Guatemala in 1979.
Individuals served in FY2022 – 64,915
- Through new construction– 7,990
- Through rehabs– 2,000
- Through incremental building -- 5,770
- Through repairs – 49,080
- Through professional services-- 75
Volunteers engaged in FY2022 – 4,590

COUNTRY FACTS:

Capital city -- Guatemala City
Population – 14.9 million
Life expectancy – 74.3 years
Unemployment rate – 3%
Below poverty line -- 60%

The housing need in Guatemala

The housing deficit in Guatemala exceeds 2.2 million homes, according to the National Association of Housing Builders. This is based on a methodology proposed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. The housing deficit includes run-down or overcrowded homes and rental units.

People also need basic services such as drinking water, toilets and electricity. In rural areas, families still cook with open fires, resulting in respiratory health problems.

How Habitat addresses the need

Volunteer engagement

•Local: organized as committees, these volunteers liaise with both Habitat Guatemala and their communities to improve housing and promote social development.
•National: people who work with Habitat to support the construction process. Volunteers come from educational centers, companies, organizations, embassies, and individuals.
•International: volunteers who make financial and physical contributions to support Habitat Guatemala’s efforts to ensure adequate and affordable housing.

Financing for new homes and improvements

We offer in-kind financing such as construction materials and skilled labor which covers the full cost of home construction or improvements, making decent housing more affordable for families. We also provide construction technical advice and housing designs to suit the needs and financial means of families through affordable installments. Such financing is available in the 22 departments of the country.

Safe homes
We provide support and advice to families to build or improve their homes, complying with national and Habitat quality standards. We follow up during the construction process with supervisory visits by our technical advisors. Top-quality certified materials are used, and the structural system complies with the regulations of the Guatemalan Association of Structural and Seismic Engineers and the Guatemalan Institute of Cement and Concrete.

Support for families living in extreme poverty
Since 2010, Habitat Guatemala has been supporting families and communities living in extreme poverty. Partial subsidies are offered to enable families to have access to products that improve their quality of life. Such products include improved stoves, ventilated pit latrines, water purification filters, and drains, among others.

What you can do

DONATE

To donate, please go to habitatguate.org/en/habitat-donations/ or email [email protected]

VOLUNTEER

Under the Global Village program, builds have resumed in select locations in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Please visit habitat.org/gv for more information and updates.

TITHE

Habitat affiliates in the U.S. support the international work through an annual tithe. For additional information, email [email protected] or contact your local Habitat organization.

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
Phone: +502 79313131 Website: habitatguate.org Facebook: HabitatGuate