A Study on the Effectivity of the Christian Habitat Village, a Project of Habitat for Humanity Las Pinas, Inc.

Abstract

In Las Pinas alone, there are 23,492 individuals who are homeless. In order to answer this housing dilemma, the government has continuously devised programs in order to resolve this problem. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), like Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation have also begun its attempt to eliminate homelessness through building simple, decent and affordable homes for the economically lower thirty (30%) of the Philippine population. At present, Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation Inc. has sites in Las Pinas among many others. Particularly in the Christian Habitat Village, there are 110 houses constructed which provide shelter to 110 families. This study aims to evaluate the effectivity of this housing project through the provision of decent, durable and affordable houses in relation to poverty alleviation. It also seeks to establish if the homepartners have benefited if at all from this housing project. Furthermore, it also examines the project’s operation in the light of social justice and basic human rights. "In order to discern if the project is indeed effective, extensive research was done. Interviews were also conducted to the heads of the housing project and 88 families from the 110 family beneficiaries were surveyed. The survey conducted confirmed that there are indeed more families who say that the housing project is effective. Nevertheless, the project itself poses several arguments. As a “non — profit organization” it must not require the homepartners to give payment which increases year after year. It must employ more money-generating projects that could help the homepartners have more sources of income. Lastly, it must realize the need to provide the homepartners with clean and regular supply of water.