Egypt

Country Facts:

Capital city – Cairo
Population – 104+ million
Life expectancy – 73.4 years
Unemployment rate – 7.2%
Below poverty line – 28.5%

Habitat Facts

Habitat started in Egypt in 1989
Individuals served in FY 2022 – 17,595
Through incremental building – 8,550
Through market development – 9,045
Volunteers hosted in FY 2019 – 449

The housing need in Egypt

Egypt is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing populations. With more than 60% of its population below the age of 30, its current housing shortage is expected to rise, especially for low-income groups. While the need continues to grow in rural and urban areas in the country, factors such as climate change, scarcity of resources and water shortage as well as private investor apathy, influence the supply and affordability of housing units.

Low-income vulnerable communities in upper Egypt, for example, resort to unsafe, substandard housing options due to a lack of financing support for safe and adequate housing.

To address the issue, the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities in Egypt has developed a housing strategy that aims to fill this gap by providing subsidies or housing units to low-income groups.

How Habitat addresses the need

Improving housing through partnership

Habitat for Humanity Egypt works with five local partners who identify the most vulnerable families and provide small loans to support home repairs. We build the capacity of community-based organizations and local committee volunteers through training in microfinance portfolio management and development of case studies and ongoing support to the local community.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

We contribute to sustainable communities through water, sanitation and hygiene, or WASH, projects that target more than 300 families in rural communities. We train health workers to address WASH issues and engage household members and local committee members to improve hygiene standards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant awareness-raising campaigns contributed significantly to the overall health conditions in target communities.

Housing support services

Habitat Egypt provides technical support such as advice on decent housing standards that contribute to health, safety and security. Our team of specialized engineers oversees projects and supervises labor and implementation works, upholding international quality standards and Habitat’s building codes.

Volunteer engagement

We facilitate volunteering opportunities by organizing build camps for youth where they can experience construction and understand their role in building better communities.

Climate adaptation

By putting the spotlight on informal settlements in an inclusive manner, our project aims to influence policymakers to integrate climate-resilient solutions and provide basic services. We focus on efficient, innovative financing support for adequate housing to contribute to policy directives in upgrading informal settlements. To address urban heat island effects in informal settlements, we help households adapt against adverse climatic conditions through a set of small-scale interventions. Our aim is to empower the residents of selected informal settlements by establishing a local community of practice that raises awareness of climate resilience and builds on existing local adaptation practices.

What you can do

DONATE

Please visit habitat.org/donate and designate your gift to Habitat Egypt.

VOLUNTEER

The Global Village program is resuming region by region until a safe and quality experience can be provided at scale worldwide. Please visit habitat.org/gv for more information.

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 Egypt

Ashraf Eid
National Director
[email protected]

Mary Nabil
RDC Coordinator
[email protected]

To find out more about us visit our:

Website: www.habitategypt.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HabitatEgypt

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Stories and news

Roma Housing: Who Will Take Responsibility?

May 13, 2026

As housing finally rises on the EU’s political agenda, one question remains largely unanswered: where do Europe’s most marginalised communities – especially Roma – fit into the European affordable housing agenda?For decades, housing sat at the margins of EU policy, constrained by Treaty limits and fragmented national competences. That era is ending. Today, housing affordability, availability, and adequacy are discussed at the highest political levels, with new initiatives, task forces, and funding debates underway. This is a welcome shift, but it also creates a responsibility: when the EU sets the direction, it must ensure no one is left behind. At present, Roma housing risks being exactly that: left behind.

Every Step Counts: GF Employees in Austria GF Walk for Water to Support Families in Slovakia

May 11, 2026

This year, employees of Georg Fischer in Loosdorf, Austria, will once again lace up their walking shoes for a cause that reaches far beyond the trail ahead of them. On 11 June 2026, as part of the global GF Walk for Water 2026 initiative, colleagues, partners, and supporters will come together in a powerful expression of solidarity — raising awareness and funds to help families gain access to something many of us take for granted every day: safe water, sanitation, and a healthy place to call home.

Let’s Open the Door Comes to London: A Powerful Global Exhibition You Don’t Want to Miss

May 10, 2026

This May, London will become one of only two cities outside the United States to host Habitat for Humanity’s extraordinary global pop-up experience, Let’s Open the Door — an immersive art installation designed to spark conversation, inspire action and remind us all why home matters.For two days only, on May 29 and 30, 2026, visitors in Covent Garden will have the chance to step into a one-of-a-kind exhibition featuring striking artistic doors, real homeowner stories and a global call to action around the housing crisis.

Other Countries

Great Britain

Habitat for Humanity Great Britain was founded in January 1995 as a fundraising office to raise money and awareness for the global work of Habitat for Humanity. Based in Slough, near London, the national office works with individuals, corporate organisations, major donors, foundations, institutions and trusts.

Germany

Habitat for Humanity Germany began operations in 1998. The national office is based in Cologne. Habitat Germany has with 20 staff members and a five-person board of directors.Its work primarily focuses on raising funds for the international and local projects of Habitat for Humanity.

Hungary

About one-third of Hungary’s population currently experiences poor living conditions or social marginalization. Due to growing income disparity and rising costs including extreme inflation and energy prices, housing expenses are an increasing burden. Many households are at risk of losing their homes because they cannot cover housing costs.