LHAF Humanity Homes Program

Viet Nam is burdened with thousands of family households characterized with single woman as head of household raising and caring for dependent children; often an elderly parent or disabled husband is also present. Generally the families live in temporary, sub-standard houses - literally shacks with dirt floors, thatched roofs, mud walls, outdoor toilets, and a single light bulb. They prepare meals over wood fires and if they are lucky, they have a family well from which to draw water. Toilets are a merely a hole in the backyard.

The problem is rampant in both in the cities and the rural areas. Such families living as subsistent farmers in the rural countryside of Viet Nam are especially hard pressed. Here, there is virtually no way to find employment and generate cash outside of selling small amounts of produce in small local markets. In the cities their situation is only marginally better. The demands of child rearing, and often caring for an elderly or disabled adult, in addition to earning a living are too difficult to overcome. Poverty becomes a perpetual way of life and the prospect of building or buying a real house is beyond their wildest dreams.

Here's an example of the scope of the problem. In 2004 Quang Tri Province recognized the following statistics, and these do not account for all areas of the province:

Hai Lang District:

• 1,093 women with dependent children now living in makeshift housing and living below the poverty line.

Vinh Linh District:

• In 3 communes, 131 households of single women with dependent children and poverty cards.

Gio Linh District:

• 2,514 poor households (population 7,664) with poverty cards. 90% are women and old people.

Cam Lo District:

• In 3 communes, 62 single women with dependent children living in makeshift housing.

The LHAF Humanity Home Program offers the recipient a brick and mortar home with 2 bedrooms, a living room, an eating room, and an indoor bathroom. Because propane remains unaffordable to these families they generally assume responsibility for erecting an attached bamboo shelter to serve as a kitchen and continue cooking over wood fires. Building a structurally sound house for these families provides a clean, safe home, protection from the harsh weather of central Viet Nam, a lighted place for children to do homework, and contributes to the family's sense of security and self esteem.

However, this alone does not lift a family out of poverty. A donor who provides a donation to support construction of a LHAF Humanity Home will be encouraged to considered subsequent family help as well (i.e. school fees for the children, urgent medical costs, a small business loan where appropriate, or perhaps the cost of connecting to a clean water supply. In this way LHAF hopes to provide not only the basic components of housing but continued direct family assistance to help lift them out of limitations of poverty and ensuring a better life for children with little else for a better life.

A complete, solidly built LHAF Humanity Home can be funded with as little as 2,000 usd – with perhaps a little left over for something else.

Humanity Homes Proposed | Humanity Homes In-Progress | Humanity Homes Final Reports