- A branch of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, which was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda.
- HFH Vietnam started operations in Vietnam in 2001.
- With the vision of A World Where Everyone Has a Decent Place to Live, HFH Vietnam seeks to eliminate inadequate housing, and provide healthy water and sanitation facilities to marginalize families in Vietnam and to promote housing as a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty.
- To accomplish these goals, we invite people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
- As of December 31, 2014, we have helped 12,490 families with construction-related assistance and 56,950 individuals through trainings.
- Across the Asia-Pacific region, Habitat works with families who are Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, or of other faiths, and those with none. While Habitat for Humanity maintains its Christian identity, it welcomes everyone regardless of religious affiliation and persuasion. Its vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to call home, therefore everyone is welcome to participate and build homes with people in need.
- HFH Vietnam is a branch office of HFHI. HFH Vietnam’s work in a country is coordinated and supported by a national Habitat office, staffed by specialists in program implementation, technical specialists, financial management, human resources, marketing and fundraising.
- Our head office is located in Ho Chi Minh.
- We have two additional offices; one in Quang Nam and the other in Hanoi.
- As an INGO in Vietnam we work in partnership with local government bodies. Governmental partners implement project activities together with HFH Vietnam and community members. HFH Vietnam strives to ensure project sustainability and renewability through targeted trainings and technical assistance to build the capacity of the local government partners and through the establishment of a revolving fund managed by the partners.
- HFH Vietnam mobilizes resources (construction materials, labour and financing) to build, renovate or repair houses with economically marginalized households who are willing to partner by physically participating in the construction (sweat equity) and paying towards the cost, typically through a microfinance mechanism.
- The homeowners’ monthly mortgage repayments go into a community revolving fund from which additional beneficiary households can access financing to build or improve their home.
- In all projects, HFHV provides technical assistance and capacity building to its home-partners, local community members, local construction workers and local government representatives. This includes training and skills development on sound construction and household maintenance techniques; household financial management; clean water, sanitation and hygiene awareness and practice, together with disaster risk management and disaster preparedness.
- Mobilizing volunteers from within Vietnam and around the world is a special feature of Habitat for Humanity’s programme. This provides an effective platform for people to join with beneficiary home partners in addressing the issues resulting from inadequate shelter, as well as providing an avenue to develop and nurture relationships and understanding between people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
- Because striving to promote dignity, HFH Vietnam is not a give away program. Instead of just enabling households to receive a home or repairs, we facilitate home ownership, whenever possible, through the provision of non-profit loans and repayment enabling tools such as financial literacy training and consultations. Housing microfinance schemes allow more families to build or repair homes more speedily. A family may choose to take out a series of small loans so they can build a new home in stages or renovate and repair an existing property in phases. As one of these small loans is repaid, a new one can be taken out to finance the next stage of the work.
- This savings and loans component of the Habitat model promotes financial literacy and financial independence. Access to secure, permanent housing provides families and communities with an increased sense of wellbeing and encourages stability.
- Sustainability is also addressed primarily through the revolving fund continuing to operate in the community long after the initial investment is made, together with the capacity building and trainings provided.
- HFH Vietnam works with its local government partners to identify families most in need of housing, water and sanitation.
- Households qualify to partner with HFH Vietnam based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan.
- Every project follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection.
- Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive support to build or renovate Habitat houses.
In Vietnam, a typical full house will cost US$5,000 to build. Costs depend on location, land, labour and material costs, and other development expenses.
- Habitat works with any group that shares Habitat for Humanity’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Partner organizations contribute expertise, financial resources, or both, and often volunteer labour to strengthen the impact of Habitat’s programs. HFH Vietnam sometimes partners with other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for the provision of specialized expertise, such as education or livelihoods.
- Donations are used as designated by the donor.
- Undesignated gifts are used where most needed and for administrative expenses.
- HFH Vietnam’s most recent audited financial statement is available online.
- Habitat is well known for the tangible, hands-on construction experience it offers tens of thousands of volunteers every year around the world. The muscle volunteers provide means homes can be built at considerably lower costs. More importantly, the experience transforms lives: both for the volunteers who work alongside Habitat homeowners and for partner families who see that there are outsiders who care enough to help them break the cycle of poverty.
- Anyone who can hold a hammer, a bucket or a paint-brush is welcome. Build teams hail from corporations, faith-based groups, schools and colleges, civic groups and other organizations. Business groups often find that working on a Habitat construction site is an effective way to break down barriers between executives and staff, and to encourage teamwork among employees. Individuals also volunteer to work in Habitat offices and serve in leadership roles such as being members of Habitat boards of directors.
- Global Village is Habitat’s principal international volunteer program. Global Village offers volunteers the opportunity to take part in the hands-on construction or renovation of houses in some 40 countries around the world, 15 of which are in the Asia-Pacific region. Teams of 10-12 volunteers travel to their chosen host country to build in partnership with local people, learn about local housing needs and become a part of their host’s community. Global Village trips typically last five days to two weeks. Volunteers experience a unique camaraderie and build lasting friendships with fellow team members and with Habitat homeowner families.
- Explore our Get Involved section on our website www.habitatvietnam.org
Through any of the following methods:
- Write to Habitat for Humanity Vietnam, 53/10 Tran Khanh Du, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Call +84 (8) 3526 5005
- E-mail us at info@habitatvietnam.org
- Visit us at www.habitatvietnam.org
- Join us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
