Housing Poverty In Cambodia

Growing Slums And Inequalities
  • 30,475 people served in through incremental building FY20 30,475 people served in through incremental building FY20
  • + 395 people served through repairs FY20 + 395 people served through repairs FY20

Over 1/4 of the population lives in poverty in Cambodia.

Families living in slums are breaking the cycle of poverty by working with us to develop durable, affordable homes.

Living Just Above The Poverty Line

While poverty has decreased significantly, many Cambodian families are hovering just above the poverty line of US$1.25 a day. Nearly three quarters of the population still live on less than US$3 a day, based on World Bank’s data. Poverty is largely concentrated in the rural areas though urban poverty is on the rise. Habitat for Humanity Cambodia seeks to break the cycle of poverty through safe, durable, affordable housing solutions. Since 2003, Habitat Cambodia has enabled over 22,000 families to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.

How We Help

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia works with a diverse group of international and local non-governmental organisations, micro-finance institutions, corporate partners, and local and national authorities. Its holistic approach to housing includes:

  • Unique knowledge as well as valuable data and research on the housing sector for the poorest segments of the population and low-income families.
  • Technical expertise in the provision of housing solutions for the most vulnerable individuals including safe and affordable house designs as well as water and sanitation interventions;
  • An innovative approach combining market development and experience in housing finance and housing support services; advocacy for secure land tenure; and pro-poor housing solutions in collaboration with other NGOs and community-based organisations.

How We Address Housing Poverty In Cambodia

We take a holistic approach to housing that includes securing land tenure and developing thriving communities with access to clean…

We take a holistic approach to housing that includes securing land tenure and developing thriving communities with access to clean and affordable water and electricity.

Working in six major provinces, we work with partners to train families in financial literacy and livelihood development, help vulnerable groups living with HIV/AIDS, and improve access for informal settlers in Battambang province to have secure land tenure.

We also provide micro loans and construction technical assistance to enable families to build wells and latrines, among others.

Our programmes feature the use of environmentally friendly soil blocks, solar-powered lights and rainwater catchment systems.

House- Cambodia
Since 2003, we have worked with more than 10,000 families to improve their living conditions.

With our help and that of our local partners, these same families are getting training in skills that will help them earn a living and sustain that income.

Together we are:

  • Addressing sanitation problems and providing clean water.
  • Helping to build the local financial services sector and ensure it serves the extremely vulnerable people we work with.

And because we are working with vulnerable groups in Cambodia, we also work to provide the support of social workers who can make sure they are coping with new work patterns and new housing.

Key facts & figures

  • Population: Over 16.7 million
  • Urbanisation: 25.1% live in cities
  • Life expectancy: 70.65 years
  • Unemployment rate: 0.3 %
  • Population living below poverty line: circa 16.7 %

Reforming Land Rights And Housing Advocacy

The Battambang project is unique in making centrally located, urban land available for housing the poor. This allows us to…

The Battambang project is unique in making centrally located, urban land available for housing the poor. This allows us to support families and local authorities in applying for the government’s social land concession scheme.

The work involves converting state-owned land in urban areas in Battambang into privately owned plots with secure tenure granted to families who were informal settlers. We also work with partner microfinance institutions (MFIs) to provide affordable micro-loans to families to build decent homes.

new homeowners Cambodia
Young beneficiaries Cambodia a beneficiary family in Cambodia walking to the work site
Building in Cambodia

Housing And Resettlements

bricks construction icon
In Phnom Penh, we work with relocated families living under to build core houses or repair or rehabilitate their houses and toilet facilities. Small loans enable families to gain access to clean water and electricity connection.

Through partnerships with local non-government organizations focused on people living with HIV/AIDS, we provide adequate housing solutions while partners assist with health and livelihood aspects.
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Water And Sanitation

hammer construction icon
We began working in the Siem Reap province in 2007 through a 3-year housing and community development project, which paved the way for the expansion of our programme to improve families’ access to clean water and safe sanitation.

As well as providing new sanitation facilities, we take a community-led total sanitation approach by training local leaders to provide education (and hopefully change bad habits) around water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH).
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Housing Finance: Micro-Loans For Cambodians

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Since our housing finance programme began in 2012, we have formed partnerships with major microfinance institutions such as CBIRD, Theneaka Phum, and Hattha Kakseakar Limited. Institutional loans are provided to the MFIs, which are then disbursed to families for housing and home improvement loans.

We also give micro-loans to build sanitation facilities in rural areas through our partner Vision Fund Cambodia.
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