Armenia

Context at a glance

Homeowner family will soon be in their cosy new home, protected from the cold weather and snow

More than fifty percent of families in the area where Habitat for Humanity is working are living in cramped and substandard housing with limited water and heating. Families began building the homes before the severe economic crisis hit Armenia. Many families lost their savings and building stopped. Having been forced to abandon the dream of completing their home, families often live in an unfinished basement or cellar – basically a large hole in the ground with a dirt floor and makeshift roof.

Other families live in metal containers brought to Armenia as temporary shelters following the devastating 1988 earthquake. Many families have been living in these containers for well over a decade, even though they are unbearably hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter.

Habitat for Humanity programme

The programme in Armenia is a good example of how Habitat for Humanity’s model can be adapted according to the needs of the country. HFH Armenia has found an effective way to combat the tremendous problem of poverty housing by enabling families to renovate and complete previously unfinished homes. This is making decent housing affordable to those currently living in makeshift shelters.

Today, more than 600 people in Armenia have already moved into simple, decent homes because of Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity Armenia is also running an innovative commercial-non-profit partnership to provide solar energy to 127 vulnerable households.

Read a homeowner story from Armenia The Khachatryan family

Read a volunteer story from Armenia Kevin's story

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