Habitat for Humanity in El Salvador

About Habitat For Humanity

Habitat's mission: Habitat for Humanity believes that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. We build and repair houses all over the world using volunteer labor and donations. Our partner families purchase these houses through no-profit, no-interest mortgage loans or innovative financing methods.

Habitat is a nonprofit, ecumencial Christian ministry that builds with people in need regardless of race or religion.

Habitat has more than 1,500 local affiliates in the United States, and more than 70 national organizations around the world.  Together, Habitat has helped to build or repair over 600,000 houses, and serve over 3 million people worldwide!

There are nearly 2 billion people around the world who live in slum housing and more than 100 million are homeless. Habitat helps by building or renovating simple, decent houses in partnership with those in need.

Families left homeless by natural disasters, war and civil unrest often face dire housing situations as they struggle to rebuild their lives. We provide shelter and housing assistance to help these families recover.

(http://www.habitat.org/how/about_us.aspx)

Habitat for Humanity in El Salvador

Habitat for Humanity El Salvador built its first 29 houses in 1992, in the department of Santa Ana. Since then, much program renovation and organizational growth have taken place.
This year, 996 families have been served in El Salvador alone.

After being struck by recent natural disasters, the housing need increased rapidly in El Salvador, both in urban and rural areas. Of the total number of houses affected, 60 percent corresponded to homes with an income of up to two minimum wages, and the remaining 40 percent are households with incomes greater than two minimum wages.

El Salvador is still in the process of rebuilding. According to data provided by the Vice Ministry of Housing, the country’s current qualitative and quantitative deficit totals 630,000 houses, or 51 percent of the total population.

Local governments, state institutions, non-governmental organizations and international organizations have made great efforts to respond to the housing needs of affected families. Support from these institutions concentrate on the most affected zones.

Through the work carried out by its affiliate branches, Habitat El Salvador has reached both sectors, concentrating its efforts on providing support to those families in need of adequate housing, without discrimination.

*One monthly minimum wage in El Salvador is US$144, so a family earning two minimum wages would have a monthly household income of US$288.

(http://www.habitat.org/where-we-build/el-salvador)


Thrivent Builds in El Salvador Community

Thrivent Financial's Mission & Vision :

The Thrivent Way

We are a faith-based membership organization.
Our purpose is to strengthen Christian communities
by helping members be wise with money and
inspiring them to live generously.
We succeed when our members and their communities thrive.
We value our relationships, so we will
be trustworthy in character and competence,
we will treat our members as owners and we will
live balanced and generous lives.

(http://www.thriventbuilds.com/partnership/thrivent/mission.html)

This project focuses on housing, land tenure, and volunteer mobilization and partners with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to improve the quality of life of low-income, landless Salvadoran families by building 75 homes, using Thrivent and local volunteers.

Part of Thrivent Financial’s mission as a faith-based membership organization is caring for others. Participating in this program with Habitat is a prime example of this mission in action.