Why is it important to build a family a house?

Home is where the heart is, and for many families, a safe and stable home is essential for their well-being. When families have a place to call their own, they can thrive. They can focus on their education, their health, and their careers. They can build relationships and communities. They can live their lives with dignity and hope.

Unfortunately, not everyone has a safe and stable home. Millions of people around the world live in poverty, and many of them live in overcrowded or substandard housing. Studies (and the testimonies we receive from the CAMINO families) have shown that these conditions can lead to a number of problems, including:

• Health problems: People who live in substandard housing are more likely to get sick. They may be exposed to mold and mildew, pests (mice, scorpias and snakes), and other health hazards (such as from their house falling down on them, or things like tetanus from rusty metal).

• Educational problems: Children who live in unstable housing are more likely to have difficulty in school. They may miss school because they don't have a safe place to stay or because their school clothes and books got wet from a leaky roof.

• Emotional problems: People who live in poverty are more likely to experience stress, anxiety, and depression. They may also have difficulty forming relationships due to the shame they feel from their current living conditions.

Building a family a house can help to address these problems. When families have a safe and stable home, they can focus more on their family’s future.

$1,500 is all it costs to invest in a better future!

Building a family a house is an investment in the future. It is an investment in the health, education, and well-being of the family. It is an investment in the community. It is an investment in a future where Honduran families are not having to flee to the United States to build a better life for their family. It is investing in a better future that they can find in their own backyard.

The Martinez Family: Above you can see the before and after picture of the Martinez family in front of their house. The family survives selling firewood, which you can see in picture, as well as recycling plastic bottles. When that does not cover the bills, Marili washes (by hand) clothes at some of the wealthier homes in the community to help feed the family. During the pandemic Marili’s husband died, leaving her to take care of her six children on her own.