Habitat for Humanity Builds Hope As Well As Homes
By Johanna Sevier, Journal Staff Writer

In an impoverished neighborhood near Santa Cruz, Karla Rodriguez Juarez and her two daughters lived with six other people in a tiny house with inadequate electricity, minimal flooring and no doors.

With the assistance of Costa Rica’s Habitat for Humanity, the Rodriguez family moved into an immaculate three-bedroom home.

In their new home, the family’s standard of living is vastly improved. Moreover, the Rodriguez children no longer feel embarrassment when their friends come over to play.

The Rodriguez family is the first in their neighborhood to benefit from the assistance of this non-profit, Christian housing ministry. Habitat plans to construct an additional 11 homes near the Rodriguez’s new residence, which is located in the small town of 27 de Abril.

Throughout Costa Rica, families are lifted out of squalid living conditions with Habitat’s assistance. By building and renovating houses, the organization works in conjunction with families to build hope for the future.

Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller of the United States, Habitat serves as an international leader in addressing low-income housing needs. The organization aims to create a world where everyone resides in a decent home. By working to achieve this objective, Habitat increases awareness regarding homelessness and inhumane living conditions.

Habitat established its first Costa Rican affiliate in 1988. Operations were halted after the government introduced an ambitious, low-income housing program in 1991. Cutbacks left the program poorly funded, causing Habitat to resume operations in Costa Rica in 1996. To date, Costa Rica’s Habitat for Humanity has completed over 650 homes for 3000 people.

Habitat is not purely a charity, according to Vivian Burbon, communications coordinator for Costa Rica’s Habitat for Humanity. In fact, Habitat encourages housing recipients to act as partners. The families invest hundreds of hours in labor in the construction or renovation of their homes, referred to as “sweat equity.” In addition, families must pay for the homes.

“By helping to construct and pay for their homes, the families value what Habitat gives to them,” explained Burbon.

Unlike homes purchased at market value, Habitat homes are affordable for low-income families. Volunteer donations of materials and labor and a simple construction process reduces construction costs. Moreover, housing recipients pay for the homes with long-term, affordable monthly mortgage payments.

To acquire a Habitat home, families file applications with affiliates located in Esparaza, Nicoya, Monteverde, San Ramon, Buenos Aires, and Rio Claro. The affiliates choose participants based on need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay the loan.

After being selected, families participate in a simple, standard construction process. Homes are built with either concrete blocks or Habicon. While a concrete block home requires a six-week construction period, a Habicon home takes only one month to build.

Developed by the Costa Rican Building Research Center at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, Habicon is a prefabricated construction system designed to be affordable, environmentally friendly and earthquake resistant. A Habicon home consists of a wooden frame held together by steel, with concrete panels and mortar covering walls and floors.

Despite the work conducted by Habitat, Costa Rica’s lack of affordable family housing continues to grow. An estimated 170,000 housing units are needed to end the nation’s housing deficit, according to Habitat. Moreover, approximately 240,000 homes in Costa Rica demand qualitative repair.

As a non-profit organization, Habitat relies heavily on outside assistance and donations. Although many Costa Rican businesses and schools assist the organization, foreigners primarily serve as Habitat volunteers.

For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.habitatcostarica.org