Habitat for Humanity is building innovative urban models
San Jose, Costa Rica, October 7th, 2014- More than two thirds of the world population lives in cities, spaces that face unprecedented demographic, environmental, economic and social challenges.
According to UN-Habitat, the consequences of this rapid urbanization will be dramatic. In many places around the world, the effects can already be felt: lack of proper housing and growth of slums, inadequate infrastructure –be it water, sanitation, or electricity–, safety and health issues, among other.
Given this situation, Habitat for Humanity Latin America and the Caribbean has begun to identify and implement pilot projects on urban issues.
As explained by Monica Ramirez, director of Housing and Human Settlements, these projects seek to link the different public and private stakeholders in the housing system, in order to create a model of urban intervention that can be adopted by governments as a possible policy.
Cali, Colombia
As part of the first global impact alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and the Ford Foundation, the pilot program “Informal housing market optimization” will take place in Comuna 15 in Cali, Colombia.
This program seeks to build a working model between public and private stakeholders, to facilitate communities’ access to financial resources, materials, skilled labor, Constructive Technical Assistance and other goods and useful services to improve their homes.
Through this program, Habitat for Humanity Colombia will serve directly to local economic actors involved in the housing sector in Cali. It is expected that these actors, in return, benefit more than 30,000 households in Comuna 15.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
In partnership with Cities Alliance and other Brazilian organizations, Habitat for Humanity Sao Paulo will develop the project “Community Strengthening via the Value Chain in Home Repairs”. This project seeks to address a problem that affects a significant portion of Brazilians: the quality housing deficit.
This will be an innovative program for urban social housing in the city of Sao Paulo that will ensure low-income families have timely and affordable access to support services for home improvements, and also promote the strengthening of local community organizations.
The outcome will be a concrete proposal for a national policy presented by the National Council of Cities to be incorporated by the Federal Government (Ministry of Cities).
Haiti
After the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, thousands of families left the ruins of their homes and communities to build their future among the arid mountains north of Port-au-Prince. Many more families continue to relocate to this vast area.
Today, more than 30,000 families are driving the development of the rapidly emerging city of Canaan, which spans approximately 1,100 hectares, or 2,718 acres. And they are doing it all on their own, without a formal urban development plan, technical assistance or municipal support.
Habitat for Humanity Haiti is now working to lay the groundwork for a coordinated, multiyear project to help these families upgrade their current homes, build safer new homes, and implement community infrastructure and services. Habitat will also advocate for the formal recognition of this new settlement and for land tenure so that families will have a secure foundation on which to rebuild their lives.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people (750,000 in Latin America) construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitatlatino.org