Safe, sturdy housing is the foundation of building a new life for impoverished families. But how can such housing be constructed in both an efficient, and cost-effective manner?
For families living in poverty, the term “home sweet home” is far from reality. Many families in Latin America and the Caribbean lack safe housing. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, about half the families in these regions lack sufficient housing. Some have only fragile shacks meant to be temporary but unfortunately, ended up becoming permanent.
These poorly built houses frequently have dirt floors, roofs that leak, and fragile doors, if any doors at all. They are built from wood scraps, tin/zinc, even mud and thatch or plastic bags. The structures do not offer parents raising children any peace of mind or security.
Food For The Poor builds safe, secure homes for impoverished families. Through dedicated partner organizations, the charity has built more than 95,250 homes since its inception in 1982.
In the countries where Food For The Poor builds homes, construction techniques vary. For example, houses may be built on stilts in tropical rainforests in Guyana, to prevent flooding. But as is the case with all the houses the charity builds, there is a solid plan and technique to building a house to make it into a home for a family.
In Honduras, innovative housing is built through partnering with CEPUDO, a nongovernmental organization Food For The Poor has worked with for more than two decades.
Each house is made from concrete and has a bedroom, dining room, living room, interior bathroom and a porch. CEPUDO has a process that expedites construction through careful planning.
To make the best use of resources, construction of homes is coordinated so more than one house at a time can be built, said Adalberto Dario Urbina, CEPUDO’s general contractor for projects.
“The time required for the construction of the houses is about five to six weeks. Generally, groups of five houses are built simultaneously,” said Urbina, who is a civil engineer.
Sweat Equity Saves on Labor Costs and Teaches New Skills
In Honduras, not only are safe homes built, but families also participate actively in the building of the homes. This so-called “sweat equity” ensures that those who receive homes are invested in the process.
Sweat equity has several benefits, one of the most significant being the reduction in costs to the housing project by harnessing the active participation of families in the construction of their own home. When families use their own skillsets and labor to build, the cost of labor is reduced. This makes owning a home more affordable to those who might otherwise never have the funds to afford one, according to Faster Capital, a global online group that provides funding to start-up companies, including real estate ventures.
Building homes in several communities at the same time depends on allocation of resources, the best time of the year (rainy season is not optimal) and the availability of families who can participate in building homes. Because families are expected to put in time to build their own homes, their income-producing opportunities are taken into consideration. For example, coffee harvest season or planting of certain crops can affect the hours each family invests into the building of their homes.
Families receiving homes participate in basic activities not requiring construction skills, such as hauling and unloading materials or water used for making concrete, basic labor, or storing the materials. Both men and women participate in the work, though women are usually assigned less labor-intensive tasks. During this process, some people undergo training to improve their skills as masons, carpenters, painters or plumbers. This enables them to find better jobs in the future.
“In the process of assisted self-construction, families are not only able to learn skills that will allow them to look for other better paying jobs, but they are now trained to make repairs, additions and improvements to their homes, as they have knowledge and experience of the construction techniques used in the construction of their own homes,” Urbina explained.
The Actual Process of Building Innovative Safe Housing
But first, the process begins with evaluating families to see which ones will be given Food For The Poor houses. Communities request housing and are visited to assess conditions to see if they are eligible for the Food For The Poor housing program. Socioeconomic surveys are conducted, the land for the homes is assessed to see if it is in a safe area and if there is legal ownership.
Once funding is allocated, CEPUDO visits the families in the community for training and education before construction begins. It isn’t just a matter of constructing a home, but building a new life. Families commit to educating their children, are taught to improve hygiene practices, participate in projects to improve income, and are encouraged to strengthen their involvement in the community.
The process of building the homes after the families are selected and the land is approved, begins with leveling the land. A foundation is then set and pipes are laid for the bathroom leading to the septic system outside. Wrenches anchor the lower concrete slab.
Steel placement of the house’s structure is set to ready the walls. During this time, the families are proactively participating in the construction, from carrying materials to helping with the concrete mixing.
When the walls are in place, they are plastered and polished. The roof, which includes gutters, is then put into place. The Food For The Poor house, built by CEPUDO, also has a steel door with a lock and a key to give families the peace of mind of a secure and safe home.
The finished product means a step in the right direction for families living in precarious homes, putting them on the path to self-sufficiency. For Food For The Poor, the new houses are the start of the journey that leads to a path out of poverty for these families in need.
The difference these homes make for families is more than the structure itself.
“Food For The Poor housing provides families in Honduras with more than just a roof over their heads,” said Sabrina Diz, Food For The Poor project manager for Honduras. “It offers a foundation for hope and a brighter future. I have seen firsthand how these homes transform lives by giving families a safe and stable environment, enabling children to focus on their education and parents to pursue better job opportunities. The sense of security and dignity that comes from having a permanent home is truly life-changing.”
If you wish to make a donation to Food For The Poor to provide housing for those in need, click here.
