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Q: What is Habitat for Humanity Philippines?
Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) is a non-profit Christian ministry working to help build responsible and self-reliant communities by enabling Filipino families in need to acquire affordable, decent, and durable homes. Established in 1988, HFHP is present in provinces and cities through its local affiiates, local management councils and project coordinating councils nationwide. HFHP envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Q: When was Habitat for Humanity founded here in the Philippines?
Habitat for Humanity was founded in the Philippines in 1988.
Q. How many houses has Habitat for Humanity Philippines built so far?
Since 1988, Habitat has built over 32,000 houses and has helped develop communities across the country. Each year, Habitat for Humanity Philippines endeavors to build 5,000 houses.
Q: What are the different ways by which I can be involved in Habitat for Humanity projects?
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Volunteer to build a house. Experience the joys of building a home with friends, homepartners, and other volunteers.
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Help implement community development programs. Teach children basic skills, facilitate livelihood training, or provide services to the community.
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Make a donation. Funding assistance or donation of construction materials and other home building equipment and tools are most welcome. You can also help by providing HFHP with large discounts on home building materials.
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Be a corporate partner. Broaden your role in contributing to the improvement of the lives of Filipinos in need. Actualize corporate values and convictions through greater social involvement. Make Habitat for Humanity a part of your community engagement initiative.
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Be our advocate. Spread the word about Habitat and help generate greater interest in and support for its projects.
Q: What is former US President Jimmy Carter’s role in Habitat for Humanity?
Every year since 1984, former US president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter has donated one week of his time – and his building skills – to Habitat. Each year, he and his wife Rosalynn lead a major volunteer building event which attracts thousands of volunteers. The 2006 Jimmy Carter Work Project took place in Lonavala, outside Mumbai, in western India. Previous Jimmy Carter Work Projects have included builds in South Korea (2001) and the Philippines (1999). In 2009, Mr Carter will lead Habitat builds in countries in the Mekong region, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and the Yunnan Province in China.
Q: What makes Habitat for Humanity distinct from other similar housing programs?
Habitat for Humanity Philippines believes in fully harnessing the capacities of individuals and communities. Its programs are anchored on the fundamental belief that the people who benefit from its programs are not beneficiaries per se, but are partners who will also contribute towards helping others overcome their momentary challenges. Habitat for Humanity builds houses to make housing more accessible to those who are in need and those who are willing to assume the role of a responsible homepartner. Under this principle, homepartners need to contribute through “sweat equity” and need to pay for the house through a very affordable and reasonable arrangement.
Q: What are Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ Core Program Areas?
Habitat for Humanity Philippines has four core programme areas:
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Urban Renewal – (tagline: “Habitat takes urban housing to the next level”) We promote urban renewal, where with the use of appropriate technology, efficient and affordable medium rise condominium type structures could be built where land is scarce and expensive.
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Disaster Risk Mitigation – (tagline: “Rebuilding Lives”). This program has transformed from disaster relief to risk mitigation as we help relocate informal settlers in endangered zones. Our thrust is not merely to provide intervention only after calamities and disasters shall have stricken.
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Peace Build – (tagline: “Building for peace and development”). This is carried out by bringing people of different creeds and faith together to jointly address the massive need for decent housing in underserved communities.
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“No More Slums” – We continue to carry out our regular programs, wherein we continue with our mission, through our partnership with stakeholders, of eliminating substandard housing and homelessness by providing simple, decent and affordable shelter to the economically lowest 30% of the population.
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Disaster Response – In the wake of super typhoons Ketsana and Parma in September 2009, HFHP came to the aid of victims by building latrines in evacuation centers, distributing safe drinking water, instituting food-for-work programs and distributing home repair kits to nearly 5,000 families.
Q:Why does Habitat for Humanity require payment from its beneficiaries?
Again, we do not treat the recipients of Habitat for Humanity Homes as beneficiaries. They are partners. A partnership involves a certain degree of responsibility among individuals and parties involved in the partnership. By doing the kind of work we do, we hope to be able to instill a culture of responsibility and dignified co-existence with others. Habitat houses are made available to partner families at no profit, and at very affordable rates. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a local revolving fund, which, in turn, can be used to build more houses for others in need. By this approach, we make our program more sustainable and our partners, more involved in the process of helping others in return.
Q: How does the partnership with homepartners work?
Habitat for Humanity is not a “giveaway” program. Each homeowner family is required to invest many hours of “sweat equity” into the construction of their home. Once they have their home, they are obliged to also contribute to the Habitat effort of building houses for others in need. This approach promotes pride and dignity in home ownership and fosters positive and reinforcing relationships among members of a community.
Q: How are would-be partner families selected?
Families in need of a decent shelter may approach any of the Habitat for Humanity local affiliate or local management councils. Our partner organizations also assist us in selecting homepartners, based on a set of criteria. Foremost among these would be the level of need, the ability to repay the loan, the willingness to work in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, and other qualifications that reflect the principles of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity observes a non-discriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing families to become Habitat homeowners.
Q: Do you have to be a Christian to be a Habitat homepartner?
Habitat works with people of all faiths, and even those who do not profess any faith. Habitat for Humanity helps others in a genuine spirit of community so that those who are helped may one day be in a position to help others as well.
Q: How much does a Habitat for Humanity house cost?
The cost of each Habitat for Humanity house depends on a host of factors. First among this would be the type of house – it could be row house, single detached, duplex, or a medium rise unit. Another consideration would be the location. Other considerations would include the cost of labor, materials, and ancillary development expenses
Q: Does Habitat for Humanity work with existing Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)?
Habitat works with established microfinance institutions as we seek to expand the reach of our programs. MFIs and their members can benefit from the programs of Habitat for Humanity, particularly its house build projects, as quality and affordable houses shall be made easily within their reach. Working with MFIs facilitates the process of homepartner vetting and provides a facility that will make the joint arrangement sustainable. A Habitat for Humanity-MFI partnership typically entails the design, construction, renovation or repair of housing units by Habitat for Humanity, while the partner MFI assumes responsibility for collecting the mortgage loan repayments. Joint initiatives can also include implementation of soft programs for community members.
Q: Does Habitat for Humanity have a presence in the provinces?
Habitat for Humanity traditionally carries out its work though affiliates – independent, locally-run, non-profit, community-level groups. They mobilize resources and volunteers at the local level through partnerships with local government units, community-based organizations, and private enterprises in the communities where they operate. They identify and source out building sites, mobilize volunteers for house builds, mobilize resources and donations from partners, and conduct community development and capacity building activities for community members. There are about 100 affiliates active in the Asia-Pacific region, 16 of which are in the Philippines.
Q: What kind of partners does Habitat for Humanity work with?
Habitat works with any group that shares Habitat for Humanity’s vision of a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to call home. Partner organizations contribute expertise, financial resources, or both, and often volunteer labor to strengthen the impact of Habitat’s programs. Other groups, particularly non-governmental organizations and government agencies contribute services and facilities that Habitat home partner families need to live fully transformed lives in thriving and secure communities.
Q: How may one contribute to the work of Habitat for Humanity Philippines?
One may contribute to the work of Habitat for Humanity in any of the following ways:
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Land donation;
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Financial donation for the construction of houses or improvement of community infrastructure and facilities;
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Donation of construction supplies, materials, equipment, tools, fixtures, and other resources for building houses, and community centers;
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Provision of discounts on construction supplies, materials, equipment, tools, or fixtures to HFHP;
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Financial donation in support of soft programs for community development;
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Volunteer services for build projects and conduct of capacity building programs in the community.
Q: What kind of soft programs are undertaken by Habitat for Humanity in communities?
Community development programs being carried out by HFHP include various forms of capacity building and developmental programs that will prepare and equip home partners into becoming more productive and responsible members of the community. These programs include the following:
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Values formation
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Livelihood skills development
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Educational program
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Environmental, health, and safety programs
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Financial literacy programs
Q: What is the “Friends of Habitat”?
The “Friends of Habitat” (FOH) is a movement of individuals who share the goal of providing decent homes for Filipinos in need and building self-reliant and sustainable communities across the country.
Q: Who are the “Friends of Habitat”?
Friends of Habitat include the following:
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HFHP’s partners in the conduct of its programs and activities;
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Individuals, groups, organizations or companies that volunteer their time, talent, and skills for HFHP programs and activities;
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Individuals, groups, organizations or companies that provide financial support or material donations for HFHP programs and activities;
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Individuals or suppliers who provide access to reasonably priced and discounted construction materials;
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Individuals, groups, organizations or companies that advocate HFHP’s cause among various groups, institutions, companies, and organizations.
Q: How are the “Friends of Habitat” organized?
The FOH is constituted by concentric “Circles of Friends,” which include the following:
A. Circle of Networkers and Advocates
The Circle of Networkers and Advocates helps spread the good news about HFHP and its programs with the aim of generating greater interest in and support for its cause. They help HFHP by:
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Expanding HFHP’s network of partners and advocates
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Developing a corps of highly committed advocates of HFHP
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Creating opportunities for social mobilization
B. Circle of Builders
The Circle of Builders helps provide a steady supply of volunteers for HFHP’s house builds. They mobilize individuals and groups to join in HFHP’s thematic house builds under the Sharing the House of a Thousand Stories (SHOTS) campaign. Specific in-Circle activities include:
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Developing a corps of committed Habitat builders
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For veteran “builders”, by serving as build sherpas who will orient new builders
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Mobilizing technical experts who can help provide value addition to the cutting edge technologies used by HFHP in its build programs
C. Circle of Community Developers
The Circle of Community Developers helps provide soft programs that are aimed at creating self-reliant and sustainable Habitat communities. Members of this Circle contribute by:
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Developing and mobilizing a corps of community developers who will help develop sustainable Habitat communities
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Undertaking community development programs that help address the spiritual, economic, social, and cultural needs of the communities
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Implementing programs that empower community members and provide them the tools and skills that will allow them to live and co-exist productively in the community
D. Circle of Donors and Fundraisers
The Circle of Donors includes FOH members who mobilize resources for the programs, projects, and activities of the organization. In particular, their activities include:
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Mobilizing funding for the projects of HFHP
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Identifying/ creating/ developing and implementing fund-raising projects for HFHP
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Ensuring that feedback is provided to donor partners on the status of projects and developments in HFHP programs
Q: What Is Global Village?
Global Village is Habitat’s principal overseas volunteer program. Global Village offers volunteers the opportunity to take part in the “hands-on” construction or renovation of houses in more than 40 countries around the world. Teams of 10-15 volunteers travel to their chosen host country to build in partnership with local people, learn about local housing needs, and discover the culture and hospitality of the host community. Global Village trips typically last five days to two weeks. Volunteers experience a unique camaraderie and build lasting friendships with fellow team members, and with Habitat home partner families.
Q: What is the Habitat Youth Build Program?
Youth Build (YB), is a year-round program that engages the youth, whose helping hands and hearts count more than their skills and age. By their involvement in Habitat for Humanity Build Projects, we emphasize the value of contribution of every member of the society towards building stronger and sustainable communities. This program underscores the fact that no help is small enough in the effort to create a difference in the lives of others. Habitat for Humanity believes that “today’s builders, will be tomorrow’s leaders.”
Q. What is the best way to engage Habitat for Humanity?
There is strength in number. To ensure utmost impact in its work, Habitat for Humanity engages in programs that benefit a wide segment of the community. As such, interested parties living in the same area of community are advised to collectively approach Habitat for Humanity, backed up by tenured land that can serve as the build site. By the help of their local government unit or other private sector groups in the area, build sites can also be acquired. The support of non-government or private organizations in the area which are willing to work with Habitat for Humanity Philippines can also facilitate the establishment of a program in the area.
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