News
Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford visits Haiti.
Habitat for Humanity is offering a three-fold response to the earthquake that includes clearing debris from home sites, providing Habitat for Humanity Recovery Starter kits and repairing and rebuilding homes through a transitional housing method.
We want to help families with shelter right away, while also thinking of longer term housing solutions,” said Reckford. “Our goal is to put families into safe, durable transitional shelters that can be used for long periods and improved upon over time.
The transitional housing model involves small shelters that can be built quickly and provide permanent base structures that can be expanded over time. The shelters will meet humanitarian standards of adequate living space and provision of water and sanitation. The structures also will be designed with hurricane and earthquake-resistant features.
Donations are urgently needed for recovery and can be made by clicking here: “Habitat for Humanity is offering a three-fold response to the earthquake that includes clearing debris from home sites, providing Habitat for Humanity Recovery Starter kits and repairing and rebuilding homes through a transitional housing method.
We want to help families with shelter right away, while also thinking of longer term housing solutions,” said Reckford. “Our goal is to put families into safe, durable transitional shelters that can be used for long periods and improved upon over time.
The transitional housing model involves small shelters that can be built quickly and provide permanent base structures that can be expanded over time. The shelters will meet humanitarian standards of adequate living space and provision of water and sanitation. The structures also will be designed with hurricane and earthquake-resistant features.
Donations are urgently needed for recovery and can be made by clicking here: Donations
To view President Jimmy Carters call for support click here: View video
Posted by Sarah Ryan on 22 Jan 10
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Immediate assistance for Haitians post-quake
Habitat for Humanity’s response
Basic needs such as health care, food, water and shelter are the most urgent following an event like an earthquake, to try to mitigate harmful after-effects such as spread of disease and insecurity. Habitat for Humanity’s goal is to help low-income families in need of decent housing because of this disaster with an emergency humanitarian response of shelter kits, clean-up and rehabilitation.
Clean-up and cash-for-work
Habitat for Humanity plans to help in clean-up and rehabilitation efforts by mobilizing people to clear the way for shelter construction and home rehabilitation. The size of response will depend upon the amount of support we are able to mobilize. A clean up “cash for work” program would organize people in communities and provide them with tools (shovels, wheelbarrows, crowbars, etc, etc). People would clean up debris and salvage those materials that could be recycled in a shelter solution. This involvement in productive activity provides an influx of cash to those affected by the disaster to help them meet other basic needs such as food, and also contributes to their mental health by providing them with a positive, proactive opportunity to help with recovery.
Shelter kits
Shelter kits are a basic package of materials (wall panels of either wood, composite such as reinforced plastic or fibrocement, or other materials; as well as sheets for roofs; nails; rope and tools such ashammers).
The kits will be distributed to families by Habitat employees and partners who have been trained by Habitat in disaster response and construction techniques. Habitat for Humanity has been implementing vocational education programs in Haiti for the past three years and has a cadre of certified masons and carpenters ready to assist families receiving the kits with shelter construction in Port-au-Prince.
Transitional shelter
In a next phase of response Habitat for Humanity plans to repair damaged homes and also rebuild using a transitional shelter model, whereby the shelter provides an immediate solution to a family but also provides a permanent base structure. The model adheres to international Sphere standards and the basic transitional shelter unit consists of a 17.5m2 home, a 2.5 meter porch, and a separate 4m2 latrine/shower unit. The design includes a concrete floor and structure (beams and partial wall), wall panels which can be converted later to a more permanent material, and a hurricane-resistant roof (metal sheets or micro-concrete).
Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and will use its local expertise and mobilize resources to as part of the long-term recovery building efforts. Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information phone our office today on 01 6299611 or email .
For urgent donations to Haiti please visit http://www.mycharity.ie/event/hfh_haiti_fund/
Posted by Sarah Ryan on 14 Jan 10
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Hopebuilders- Turning hope into homes
It costs an average of just €2,500 to build a basic but safe home in the developing world. 
BENEFITS OF BEING A HOPEBUILDER
Inclusivity: The Hopebuilders Campaign can involve staff at all levels, and they can set their own targets.
Recognition: We want to involve all staff personally with the campaign by individually recognising them for their efforts.
Building skills and teams: The Hopebuilders Campaign can be used as a focus for teambuilding, breaking down silos, developing entrepreneurial and creative skills, and enabling people to use their own strengths and those of the staff around them.
Motivation: Many people want to ‘make the world a better place’ but don’t know where to begin. Joining the Hopebuilders campaign enables staff to do something very practical with tangible outcomes. You could also offer to part fund some staff to go on overseas volunteering teams, as an extra incentive and as a means of improving motivation further.
PR: This is an easy proposition to communicate, with great visuals available for PR purposes.
Take Action Now!!!
Sign up to be a Hopebuilder today!
Call or email:
016299611 or
Posted by Sarah Ryan on 6 Jan 10
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