Disaster Response

The incidence of natural disaster, war, conflict and civil unrest is increasing year on year, resulting in millions of refugees and internally displaced people.

Families left homeless by disasters and refugees returning to their homelands face uncertain futures, often confronting dire housing needs as they struggle to rebuild their lives.

Disasters cause losses that exceed the community’s ability to cope without help and people with low incomes and substandard housing, those Habitat seeks to serve, are among the most vulnerable.

Habitat has been playing a significant role in the development of shelter and housing solutions in the wake of disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies.

More than 50,000 families worldwide have been served by Habitat’s disaster recovery programmes. Recovery initiatives include transitional shelter, new housing, repairs and reconstruction and retro-fitting to enhance resistance to hazards. Habitat’s response model has been designed to adapt to disasters of all magnitudes and in locations across the globe.

Haiti – Earthquake Recovery Programme

Since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on 12th January 2010, Habitat for Humanity's recovery program has benefited 40,000 families through emergency, transitional and permanent housing solutions.

As we witness the continued challenges faced by the Haitian people Habitat's work continues towards serving 50,000 families in the five years following the earthquake.

The effects of the quake

The earthquake damaged nearly 190,000 houses in Haiti, of which 105,000 were completely destroyed. Of the more than 2 million affected survivors, 550,000 are still displaced according to the Organisation for Migration. Since the earthquake, Haiti has been challenged by Hurricane Tomas, a cholera outbreak, post-election unrest, and extreme poverty that existed even before the quake.

 

Our work so far

As part of our strategy to provide families with pathways to permanent housing, Habitat has constructed more than 4,000 transitional or upgradeable shelters

Long-term, Habitat remains committed to building hurricane and earthquake-resistant cement-block houses.So far Habitat has built 150 core permanent homes with another 100 planned for 2012.


In addition, Habitat has distributed more than 24,500 emergency shelter kits alongside partner organisations, conducted more than 12,000 housing damage assessments, and has five fully operational Habitat Resource Centres (HRCs) throughout the country that assess and respond to local community needs. By accessing services from a Habitat Resource Centre, each family moves along a pathway to a safe, secure and affordable permanent home.

 Additional support

Access to land with clear title on which to build permanent housing has also been a challenge. To that end, Habitat has been working with the Haitian government and the international community to develop a clear, legal process for owning land and is working with partners to support the government for community planning on shelter and settlement issues.

Despite such obstacles, Habitat’s rebuilding activities have benefited 40,000 families. In addition, Habitat and its partners have built more than 200 latrines, distributed 750 household hygiene kits and held hygiene promotion classes to stem the deadly spread of cholera.

Habitat is also helping to build long-term economic growth and sustainability by training and hiring Haitian staff. Approximately 700 local job opportunities have been created by Habitat’s recovery programme and nearly 80 percent of its full-time central staff is Haitian. 

Haiti is just one of many

Many countries around the world share a similar story to Haiti and need the support and help offered by Habitat’s Disaster Recovery model. To give your support please donate here