Housing poverty in Costa Rica

  • +2,375 families served +2,375 families served
  • +2,893 volunteers hosted +2,893 volunteers hosted
  • Projects: construction, reconstruction, sustainability Projects: construction, reconstruction, sustainability

We've been tackling housing poverty in Costa Rica since 1997 by offering low-income people the opportunity to own a safe, decent home.

We either build from scratch or improve their existing shelter. Since establishing our local office, we have provided over 2,010 housing solutions in Costa Rica.

1 in 4 Costa Ricans living in poverty

The INEC National Survey of 2014 estimates that at least 1.2 million of Costa Rica’s residents — about one-fourth of the population — live in poverty, and 6.7% of the inhabitants live in extreme poverty. Among poor households, 7.8% have single women as heads of the household, which makes it difficult for them to access credit to secure adequate housing.

What about subsidy?

Although the state helps alleviate social housing problems through a solidarity subsidy, the process to access this subsidy is not always a good opportunity for the families who need it. Additionally, the very limited and rare access to credit for adequate housing affects the lowest income segments of the population.

How we address housing poverty in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Construction An adequate and permanent house is carefully designed, built with good quality materials in a safe property…

Costa Rica Construction

An adequate and permanent house is carefully designed, built with good quality materials in a safe property and inhabited with values: respect, support, communication, honesty, collaboration and harmony.

We pay great attention to the quality of construction and expect that each house that carries our name becomes an inviting place for the family to share.

where we work costa rica

Key facts & figures

  • Capital: San José
  • Proclaimed independence: Sept. 15, 1821
  • Population: circa 5.2 million
  • Urbanisation: 82 %
  • Life expectancy: 79.64 years
  • Unemployment rate: 8.1 %
  • Population living below poverty line: 21 %

Training for life

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Last year, 276 families received Construction Technical Assistance, and 4,534 individuals in different areas were provided with pertinent information to gain access to the state housing subsidy. In addition, 569 individuals received financial training to learn to adequately interpret their financial reality and efficiently manage their resources.

Home improvements

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In 2013-14 we performed 76 home improvements and rehabilitations, which have a positive result in the community as a social entity.

Volunteering in Costa Rica

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Throughout the past year, 622 national volunteers donated their love and solidarity, providing 4,976 hours of volunteer work. Additionally, international volunteers reached a total of 16,200 hours of volunteer work in the housing projects of Biolley and Potrero Grande, along with other individual households in the southern region of the country.