HABITAT FACTS:
- Habitat started in the Dominican Republic in 1986.
- Individuals served in FY2022 – 29,710
- Through new construction – 115
- Through incremental building – 200
- Through repairs – 7,775
- Through professional services – 250
- Through market development – 21,370
- Volunteers engaged in FY2022 – 101
COUNTRY FACTS:
Capital city – Santo Domingo
Population – 10.53 million
Life expectancy – 74 years
Unemployment rate – 6.2%
Below poverty line – 23.85%
The housing need in Dominican Republic
According to the United Nations Development Programme, the housing deficit in the Dominican Republic is almost 2.1 million units, of which about 60.6% is qualitative. Compared to those who are homeless, there are more people living in inadequate housing. The housing shortage is growing annually by an average of 50,000 to 60,000 homes.
At the national level, housing is built by families. The high cost of construction services and families’ low incomes make it impossible for them to access the formal building sector, which leads to deterioration of home quality and safety.
How Habitat addresses the need
Access to housing services
We offer both financial and non-financial support that help families access essential services and turn housing into a durable asset that adds value to the communities we serve. We also provide construction technical assistance to guide families in building their own homes.
100,000 Floors to Play On initiative
Since 2022, Habitat Dominican Republic has joined the regional initiative 100,000 Floors to Play On with FICEM, to replace 10,000 unsafe, dirt floors with concrete floors in the country. Unpaved floors serve as a breeding ground for disease-causing parasites, bacteria, and insects that can lead to major health and hygiene threats. Research shows that dirt floors can also stunt children’s cognitive development.
Training
We provide training in areas such as financial education, master builders, risk management, water and sanitation, healthy housing, and basic construction. We develop partnerships to promote organized, committed, and empowered communities.
Financial services
We facilitate access to housing microloans for low-income families to build, repair, or improve their existing housing. We partner with microfinance institutions and other organizations to address the quantitative housing shortage and conduct housing demand studies in different parts of the country.
Disaster preparedness and response
Through international collaborative projects, we work on shelter construction, repair, and management in disaster-affected areas. We also build capacity for safe construction at the community and institutional levels through training in risk management.
Volunteer engagement
We mobilize brigades of national and international volunteers, to be the hearts, hands, and voices that further the cause of decent housing, promote understanding and contribute to safe and affordable housing solutions.
What you can do
DONATE
Donate at habitatdominicana.org/donar-ahora/
VOLUNTEER
The Global Village program has resumed builds 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 Dominican Republic, Pidagro No. 58. Street, El Millón, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Phone: +1-809-547-2091 Email: [email protected]
Website: habitatdominicana.org/
facebook.com/habitatdominicana/ twitter.com/HabitatRepDom instagram.com/habitatdominicana youtube.com/channel/UC_CqB_1YpjI9HjC5aISk1Xw