Cayman Islands

Context at a glance

Hurricane damage in the Cayman Islands in 2004

The Cayman Islands is considered to have the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. A national survey found that 28 percent of the population earns between £550 and £1,100 per month. Although salaries are tax-free, the cost of living is significantly higher than in many industrialised nations since almost all goods are imported. And, not everyone shares in this wealth.

Of an estimated 15,000 households on the islands, half appear to be renting their home. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at roughly £380, making affordable housing an enormous obstacle for low-income families. Many who depend on one income earn between £400 and £500 a month. The current loan terms for buying a house require a costly 10 to 25 percent deposit.

A traditional Cayman house is made of wattle and daub (sticks and mud), with a corrugated tin roof. A house can be very small (12 by 12 ft) and is usually located alongside other family units, one of which may be larger to contain the cooking facility. Since the islands lack streams and rivers, water is a precious commodity and must be collected in rooftop cisterns.

HFH Cayman Islands estimates that the current housing need is 1,000 homes. Only one private company develops "affordable housing". The government recently started a low-cost housing project, for which they have received over 400 applications in a very short space of time.

Habitat for Humanity programme

Aware of the housing struggles faced by low-income families in the Cayman Islands, a group of concerned residents began looking for a solution to the problem. The Habitat for Humanity programme began there in 2003. Next came a process of adapting Habitat's methods to the islands' culture and unique housing needs. It is selecting housing models and forming partnerships prior to beginning construction in Grand Cayman. So far, the government and community have voiced strong support for the programme, through commitments to help with land acquisition, as well as donating materials.

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