Christina thought about being a homeowner for eight years — as long as she has been renting — but the idea of being her own landlord was too daunting. “I’m a single mom of three, and I thought it would be a lot to handle.” One day while at her job, Christina was intrigued by a flyer she saw about Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, Indiana’s homeownership program. A co-worker who was already in the program strongly encouraged her to apply. She did, and Christina was approved.

In March 2020, as the COVID pandemic was at its peak, Misty and her 6-year-old son were scrambling to find a safe place to shelter in their trailer in Lebanon, Tennessee, as a tornado passed overhead. They found themselves seeking shelter from a tornado again in 2021. Frantic for a better place to live, she searched the housing market and discovered that she couldn’t afford a traditional mortgage. 

By increasing access to adequate housing in informal settlements, the Home Equals campaign improves health, increases safety and security, and creates a brighter future for individuals and communities.

What does the scope and challenge of improving informal settlements look like? Follow residents of Bangladesh’s informal settlements as they confront enormous challenges head-on.