Habitat for Humanity Argentina organized on September 5, 6, 12 and 13 an exhibition in a run down derelict building in the La Boca neighborhood with the aim of making its visitors aware of the City of Buenos Aires housing problem and encouraging them to be part of the solution.
After a thorough survey, HPHA acquired this building as an opportunity to transform vacant or ill-used urban space into apartments to rent to low income families. The new building is being designed to respect and reinterpret the identity of this historic and characteristic neighborhood of the port area of Buenos Aires. Whilst HPHA continues to seek funding for the building, volunteers turned the run down house into an exhibition with pictures, information and the recreation of a “typical” squatter or informal rental room. With the help of two families who are already part of the “Guided Rents” programme, a wood and tin room was equipped with bedding, kitchenware, tables, childrens play pen and the necessary plastic covering to protect clothes from the dripping ceiling.
According to the last national census in 2001, more than 110,000 people live in informal rent situations (cheap hotels, abandoned buildings or tenement houses), paying a regular rent for squalid and inadequate conditions with a toilet shared by over 20 people. To rent in the city of Buenos Aires, a family needs formal employment, upfront payments and a property in the city of Buenos Aires as collateral. This, clearly, excludes most low income families. In addition, due to the excess demand for rents, descendants of neighbouring countries, or families with small children are most often discriminated.
A video of the exhibition can be found on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpAd_QUIv08
After a thorough survey, HPHA acquired this building as an opportunity to transform vacant or ill-used urban space into apartments to rent to low income families. The new building is being designed to respect and reinterpret the identity of this historic and characteristic neighborhood of the port area of Buenos Aires. Whilst HPHA continues to seek funding for the building, volunteers turned the run down house into an exhibition with pictures, information and the recreation of a “typical” squatter or informal rental room. With the help of two families who are already part of the “Guided Rents” programme, a wood and tin room was equipped with bedding, kitchenware, tables, childrens play pen and the necessary plastic covering to protect clothes from the dripping ceiling.
According to the last national census in 2001, more than 110,000 people live in informal rent situations (cheap hotels, abandoned buildings or tenement houses), paying a regular rent for squalid and inadequate conditions with a toilet shared by over 20 people. To rent in the city of Buenos Aires, a family needs formal employment, upfront payments and a property in the city of Buenos Aires as collateral. This, clearly, excludes most low income families. In addition, due to the excess demand for rents, descendants of neighbouring countries, or families with small children are most often discriminated.
A video of the exhibition can be found on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpAd_QUIv08
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1 comment:
There are many people in Argentina willing to help. I was surprised to see how many of these organizations there were. I would love to help out people who live in La Boca, they really give everything for tourists and want them to enjoy their city. I had an apartment for rent in buenos aires in that neighbourhood precisely, and neighbours were friendly and sympathetic. They tried to speak in English even though it was very hard for them, you could see they were making an effort. They deserve all the help we can provide!
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