Today, 1.6 billion people live in inadequate shelter around the world; 1 billion of those live in slums. By 2030, it is expected that 2 billion people will live in slum communities. The world’s housing situation is a crisis in need of attention and action.
On World Habitat Day, 3rd October, Habitat for Humanity joins the United Nations and organisations around the world in raising awareness, educating and mobilising individuals and communities to take action on the current global housing crisis while working together to ensure adequate housing for all.
In recognition of World Habitat Day and the work Habitat for Humanity has done to alleviate poverty housing, Habitat will dedicate its 500,000th home in Maai Mahiu, Kenya, and raise the walls on its 500,001st home in Paterson, New Jersey. This milestone represents 500,000 houses built, rehabbed or repaired and families served.
We are asking YOU – our volunteers, homeowners, donors and supporters – to join us in raising awareness of housing issues in Ireland and around the world on World Habitat Day. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Spread the word
Change your Facebook and/or Twitter profile photos to the Habitat for Humanity World Habitat Day 2011 logo. Update your status/tweet about why you are doing it, for example:
“1.6 billion people around the world do not have access to adequate shelter. On World Habitat Day let’s stand up and let it be known that affordable, adequate housing should be a priority for all. Change your profile photo to the Habitat for Humanity World Habitat Day logo and repost this message. Visit www.Habitatireland.ie for more info on how to get involved.”
Tell your story
Write to you local newspaper or contact your local radio station to tell them about housing issues. Have you recently returned from a Global Village trip overseas or volunteered with us in Dublin? Personalise your story. Speak about the impact proper housing has on people’s lives that you have witnessed. Thank the public for continuing to support these projects in Ireland and overseas.
Write to your TD
Write to your local TD about the issue of poverty housing in Ireland. Inform them about World Habitat Day and let them know that it should be a day for them to reflect on the issue of housing in their areas. Let your voice be heard.
Organise a Builders Tea Break
Sit down with work colleagues, family and friends over a cup of tea and share your Habitat story and discuss the challenges families and communities face due to inadequate housing. Discuss different ways people can become involved.
Donate
Donate or organise a fundraiser to support Habitat for Humanity Ireland’s work. It is thanks to your support that we have served 500,000 families in the last 35 years. But, there are many more families in need of simple, decent, affordable homes. Each house built, each family served, each life changed forever starts with ONE person like YOU who decided to join the fight. One donation can help several people gain access to proper shelter.
Resources
You can read Habitat for Humanity homeowner stories here.
There is more information on our Local Programme in Ireland here.
Global volunteering opportunities are here and Dublin based opportunities are here.
