Guyana

Context at a glance

Emmanuel and Samuel, grandsons of future homeowner Enid, on their way to school

According to Guyana's government, 5,200 homes must be built each year for 10 years to meet the national housing need. Some 20 percent of Guyanese are squatting illegally. In its 2001 "Guyana Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper" the government stated that poor housing infrastructure and high land costs were major issues contributing to the country's severe poverty crisis. Some 35 percent live below the poverty line, with 19 percent living in conditions of extreme poverty.

In many areas, families endure leaking roofs and inadequate living spaces, with a lack of privacy, running water and sanitation. Their shelters are on the verge of collapse, with rotten walls, rusty and curling roof sheets, and holes in the floor covered with cardboard. If windows exist, they are often covered with cardboard, zinc or wood. Four to ten family members often live in single-room houses, with either no toilet at all, or a toilet and kitchen outdoors.

Habitat for Humanity programme

HFH Guyana was officially established in 1995. In 2003, it celebrated the completion of its 200th house. Its vision is a Guyana without substandard housing. HFH Guyana recognises that it cannot achieve this alone and believes that it must maintain a sustainable organisational structure and develop a broad base of support, while building strategic alliances with other like-minded groups that share a common vision.

HFH Guyana homes are an average of 500 square feet with two bedrooms and plumbing, but no electricity. They are built of reinforced concrete. Guyana is blessed with a hurricane-free location, but it is subject to flooding in some areas.

HFH Guyana recognises the need to speed up the building process in order to truly make a dent in the housing needs of the country. Through innovation and experimentation, it now has a house design that is cheaper to build than previous models and research continues through a partnership with the University of Guyana.

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