Mexico

Context at a glance

Habitat houses under construction in Puebla, Mexico

Of the employed population, about one third of Mexicans (seven million people) earn less than the minimum wage. Ten million families manage on less than two minimum wages a day. This means that more than half of Mexico's employed population makes £16 a month or less. Yet these workers support half of the nation's families.

Government estimates state that one million families live in substandard housing, but these calculations do not include the many families who rent rooms or live with other families in overcrowded conditions. HFH Mexico estimates that the current housing need is a staggering two million families or about 10 million people.

Habitat for Humanity programme

Habitat for Humanity's efforts to alleviate poverty in Mexico date back to 1988, when it started working in two communities, Dexthi Alberto in Chihuahua and San Pedro Capula in Hidalgo. Today the national programme covers 15 states, making it one of the largest HFH programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Habitat houses shelter families in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. The average house is built in roughly three weeks and measures between 42 and 49 m². In compliance with urban housing code requirements, Habitat houses in cities measure the minimum 60 m² and have electrical and plumbing installations.

Construction materials vary from region to region. In order to reduce house costs, HFH tries to use as many local materials as possible. For example, roofs may be built of galvanised zinc or reinforced concrete, and walls of bricks or concrete blocks. Materials also vary depending on the area's climate and susceptibility to earthquakes and hurricanes.

The average Habitat house has two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, living-dining room and either a dry latrine or toilet. Partner families repay their loan over an average of seven years through monthly instalments of about £40. This is a much more affordable solution than renting an inadequate and overcrowded place to live costing roughly £54 to £110.

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