From rain to refuge in Ethiopia
Yiftu dreaded the rainy season.
Her damaged roof couldn’t stand against the downpours. Rain would gush relentlessly into the home she and her two children shared in an informal settlement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The moisture in Yiftu’s home created an environment for mold and mildew. Flooding from the heavy rains contaminated their water. This exposed the family to waterborne illnesses, a leading cause of death worldwide. Her home was not a haven — it was a health risk.
Yiftu was determined to give her children a home free from the flooding, the health hazards, the constant worry. She partnered with Habitat Ethiopia to improve her family’s living conditions.
“Now we sleep without fear. There is no rain, no cold and no dust on the floor. My children are happy,” says Yiftu.
We are proud to be part of Yiftu’s journey, but her experience is far too common. No one should have to live like she once did, yet millions do — not just in Ethiopia, but around the globe.
That’s why, through our Home Equals campaign, we’re working alongside informal settlement residents, community members and allies to influence local and national governments and members of the international community to address barriers to adequate housing.
In June, we can capture the attention of world leaders at the G7 summit, a forum where global decisions are made. We’re bringing housing to the table and urging them to improve the lives of 1.1 billion people living in informal settlements.
People like Yiftu.
Through our petition, you can add your voice to theirs. These leaders have the power to help, and together, we have the power to make them listen.
Use your voice! Sign our petition to help 1.1 billion people living in slums and informal settlements worldwide.
Built with Shorthand-
This issue highlights how we’re helping to shape affordable housing policies in the U.S.; our sustainable housing solutions; the lasting legacy of a devoted supporter who gifted her home to Habitat; and more.
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Habitat Magazine illustrates the mission at the center of all our work – ensuring people in our communities and around the world can achieve the safety and stability of affordable homeownership. Journey through the impact of Habitat with our collection of Habitat Magazine issues.
