Progressive Improvements

In Habitat for Humanity Argentina (HPHA) we seek to offer habitat solutions that are adapted to local needs and each family in particular. That’s why we have stopped promoting only complete houses in order to give prominence to other programs, such as “Progressive Improvements”, which is already working in Buenos Aires, Luján and Santa Fe. With the help of many of our associated organizations (Fundación Concordia, De la Nada, and churches from the city of Santa Fe) we have already helped 83 families improve their homes, and we are planning on reaching 76 more families in the next year.

The Ceferina García family, in Santa Fe, is one of the families participating in the “Progressive Improvements” program, through which they were able to improve their bathroom. “Now it is impossible to take the kids out of there, they want to stay all day in the shower in their new bathroom!” says Ceferina enthusiastically.

According to the National Statistics Office (Indec) 2004, 47.5% of Argentines live in unacceptable conditions. 23. 7% of these are homes that are in need of repair, while 15% are overcrowded homes needing an extension. Both of these problems are addressed by the “Progressive Improvements” methodology.

It is trully amazing to see how a small improvement or enlargement can change the life of a family! For those who would really need a whole new house, but cannot pay the cost of a loan, the “Progressive Improvements” allows families to build their home gradually, in stages, through small loans.

Many times, a small change in a house can completely transform the everyday life of those who live there. Hilda Núñez from Lujan, whose family is also part of the program, says that she is still not used to having running water in her home, and that once in a while she goes to her backyard to use the water pump without realizing that she no longer needs to do so anymore!

The problems that the “Progressive Improvements” program most frequently deal with are those related to unsatisfied basic needs such as access to water inside the house, the placing of openings for better ventilation, or the finishing of a room that may need some kind of plastering in order to eliminate humidity and thus make the place healthier and more habitable.

HPHA offers guidance and support to the family throughout the construction process from the social, technical and legal aspects. The goal is to reach a long term solution, ideally including the title deeds of the land – should the family not have them already.

*This article was written thanks to the contribution of Soledad Orellana (Social Worker from Luján), Gabriela Rivas (Social Worker from Santa Fe), Mercedes Leguizamón (Secretary from Santa Fe) and Andrés Maidana Legal (Housing Solutions).