• After 34 years in the country, the NGO focused on housing issues has managed to work on more than 27,000 housing solutions.
• The organization’s programs take place in Santo Domingo, Herrera, Los Alcarrizos, Sabana Perdida, Villa Mella, Villa Altagracia, Haina, Azua, Elías Piña, Montecristi, Samaná, San Cristóbal, San Juan, San Francisco de Macorís and Santiago de los Gentlemen.
Santo Domingo. – Habitat for Humanity Dominican Republic reached national soil in 1986 and since then, the global, non-profit, non-governmental organization has managed to transform and empower the lives of more than 135,000 Dominicans through the construction and improvement of their homes.
Cesarina Fabián, director of Habitat for Humanity in the Dominican Republic, explains that her greatest celebration is seeing thousands of Dominican families in a safe and healthy home. “We feel very grateful because in these 34 years on national soil we have worked on more than 27,000 housing solutions. This is thanks to the work of an extraordinary team committed to the organization, as well as all Dominicans who have been involved in our cause from different activities, being individual or corporate donors and volunteers, ”says Fabián.
For 34 years in the country, the organization has improved the living conditions of thousands of families who do not have access to a decent place to live. This goal is achieved through the execution of various programs such as the construction of new houses, financial education, activities related to disaster risk response and reduction, capacity building in construction for families and masons, the promotion of access to construction products. Microfinance for home repair and improvement for low-income families with technical assistance in construction and the help of volunteers.
The Dominican Habitat projects have been developed in Santo Domingo, Herrera, Los Alcarrizos, Sabana Perdida, Villa Mella, Villa Altagracia, Haina, Azua, Elías Piña, Montecristi, Samaná, San Cristóbal, San Juan, San Francisco de Macorís and Santiago de los Caballeros.
To transform the lives of thousands of families, the organization mobilizes local and international volunteers who have joined together to build shoulder to shoulder in the communities that intervene. Companies such as Whirlpool in the Dominican Republic and Cementos Argos Dominicana have supported the cause of Habitat, as has businessman Celso Marranzini, who has been committed to the work of the organization for several years and together with whom they developed a project for residents of Haina and surrounding areas.
“The structural weakness of housing due to empirical self-construction, the need to strengthen preparedness and response to the risk related to cyclones, shelters and housing, and the need to advocate through voluntary voices that promote the cause of decent housing. In addition, laws that seek to improve the situation from the central government continue to be the greatest challenges we face in Dominican Habitat, ”emphasizes Fabián.
Habitat for Humanity has a presence in 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and alliances throughout the region. The leading housing organization is present in more than 70 countries around the world. In the Dominican Republic, the team of professionals who accompany the direction of Cesarina Fabián are: Gina Vera, as Manager of Resources and Communications Development, Juan Mendoza, Financial and Administrative Manager and Betsaida Santana, Program Manager.
“Today our work is focused on our campaign” Homes, communities + hope “, which was born in response to the pandemic we are experiencing and aims to allow us to achieve a world where each person has a healthy place to live and contain transmission of COVID-19 and not be forced to leave their home due to the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic. We will continue to work hard from our organization to empower more Dominicans with housing”, concludes Fabián.
