India

ABOUT HABITAT
Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller who developed the concept of ‘partnership housing’ that centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest - and the basic model of Habitat for Humanity was established.

The Fullers decided to apply the ‘Fund for Humanity’ concept in developing countries. Thus, Habitat for Humanity International as an organization was born. In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat's work brought the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat's work around the world.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 500,000 houses across 80 countries, sheltering 2.5 million people worldwide.

Habitat India began operations in 1983 in Khammam, Andhra Pradesh. It is among Habitat's largest programmes in the Asia-Pacific region. After the Jimmy Carter Work Project in 2006 - where one hundred homes were built by more than 3,000 volunteers, including celebrities like Brad Pitt, Steve Waugh and John Abraham, during a five-day blitz build in  Lonavala - Habitat India launched the IndiaBUILDS - A World of Hope Campaign to support 100,000 families to live in safe and decent homes by 2015.

Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with local, grassroots, non-government organizations, and micro finance institutions throughout India to provide decent housing. Habitat India operates through its resource centers known as Habitat Resource Centers (HRC's) in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai. Till date, Habitat has served over 45,000 families across 17 states in India.


WHY HOUSING?
Housing crisis in India

India faced a housing shortage of 74 million housing units by the end of 2011, according to the National Housing Bank. The majority of the housing shortfall is in rural areas. One in every five rural dweller lives in a kutcha home made of mud, thatch, grass or other non-lasting natural materials. In urban areas, the poor live under bridges, on pavements, train tracks, highways, canals as well as in crowded slums.

Housing must become a priority

The percentage of people without access to decent, stable housing is rising
Increasing the housing supply across the globe is essential
Adequate housing is vital to the health of the world's economies, communities, and populations
If we are to succeed in the fight against poverty, we must support the expansion of housing both as policy and practice

Housing as a catalyst
Research has shown that one's health is directly linked to housing and housing-related basics such as water and sanitation. Researchers at the World Bank found that replacing dirt floors with concrete floors improved the health of children, facilitating a 20 percent reduction in parasitic infections, a 13 percent reduction in diarrhea and a 20 percent reduction in anemia. Housing provides:

Stability for families and children
A sense of dignity and pride
Health, physical safety, and security
An increase in educational and job prospects
Prevention of poverty induced diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhea
An increase in access to credit through the provision of interest-free loans
Safe homes and neighborhoods that in turn help to build social stability and security

HOW HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INDIA WORKS
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with local, grassroots non-government organizations, microfinance institutions and other partners throughout India to provide decent housing. Home partners contribute their own labor, or sweat equity, construction materials and repay toward the cost of building their homes. Regular repayments go into a Fund for Humanity which helps Habitat to build more homes. Habitat uses a Save & Build housing microfinance concept in India in order to reach more communities in need. Home partner families usually form groups – often led by women – to save about part of the cost of each house while Habitat, non-governmental organizations or corporate partners invest the remaining portion of the amount.

Habitat houses in India range in size from 20 sq. m. to 33.5 sq. m. Each house usually comprises a living room, kitchen and toilet. Houses constructed under the post-tsunami reconstruction program are earthquake-resistant and feature stairs to the roof to aid evacuation in the event of floods. To extend the reach of its programs, HFH India operates Resource Centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and the capital, New Delhi.


HABITAT OUTREACH
Habitat India engages in the following construction related activities:
1. Construction of a new house
2. Rehabilitation of houses: Restoration of a dwelling that once met the required housing standards
3. Incremental constructions: A construction intervention that addresses a build in stages
4. Home repairs: Repairs include patching, restoration or minor replacement of materials and building components for keeping the house in good or sound conditions
5. Home improvements: To reduce the vulnerability of the family in the areas of health or safety. The improvement is permanently attached to the dwelling or property