Habitat in Haiti: Update on Recovery Efforts

Update on Haiti Habitat homes:

Out of 180 Habitat for Humanity homes in Haiti, only 4 were severely damaged by the January 12 earthquake.

Update on Earthquake Recovery:

Habitat for Humanity has set a goal of serving 50,000 families affected by the January 12th earthquake in Haiti.

From Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International:

“I want to be clear that our commitment to Haiti comes with the pledge that it will not distract us from commitments elsewhere in the world.  The Haiti response will have a specifically dedicated staff for the next three to five years, much as did our response for the 2005 hurricane damage on the US Gulf Coast.  And funds used in Haiti will be donations specifically designated for that purpose.  We will not divert funds from other needs, and we will actively discourage donors from doing so.

We will serve as many families in Haiti as resources allow.  We will do this through a variety of programs – from providing the emergency shelter kits to helping with transitional shelters to building core houses in partnership with the local government and other organizations.

Habitat for Humanity rebuilds communities and restores hope.  Our disaster recovery efforts include family participation and holistic community development to bring back a sense of stability and cohesion in the families and the communities.  Habitat is committed to staying with communities throughout the reconstruction process.”

Haiti Update

(Photo courtesy of Habitat International)

Habitat for Humanity International hopes to erect thousands of one-room houses for those devastated and left homeless by the recent earthquake in Haiti.

An estimated 1 million Haitians have been left homeless as of January 12th, and many of those have taken shelter in 200 scattered encampments.

We are very excited to hear that Habitat International is planning on implementing durable, steel-framed “core houses”  that include water tanks and latrines.  Each house is estimated to cost around $3,000.  As resources become more available, rooms can be added onto each house for $300 to $500.  These homes are incredibly important due to their more quake-resistant rooftops, made from aluminum.  Previously, Haitian homes were typically made with concrete roofs, a cause of many deaths and injuries during the earthquake.

(Thanks to reuters!)

Music For Relief On Larry King Live

From Music for Relief.org:

“Music for Relief has brought together an incredible album of artists who have all generously donated original songs to support the Haiti relief effort. Artists include: ALANIS MORISSETTE, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, HOOBASTANK, KENNA, LINKIN PARK, LUPE FIASCO, PETER GABRIEL AND SLASH.

Now, we need your help: you can join in support of the immediate relief and long-term recovery process in Haiti by downloading songs at MUSICFORRELIEF.ORG and making a donation in any amount. Then, EMBED THE WIDGET on your Facebook or MySpace page, your blog, or your website…wherever you can spread the word. Every little bit helps.

100% of funds received will go directly to the Haiti efforts. In partnership with the UN Foundation’s Central Emergency Response Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and Dave Matthews BAMA Works Haitian relief efforts, Music for Relief is working to support immediate relief with food, water and emergency medical supplies as well as long-term sustainable housing solutions for the people affected by this catastrophic natural disaster.

About Music for Relief: Founded by the band Linkin Park, Music for Relief is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to victims of natural disasters and the prevention of such disasters. Since its inception in 2005, Music for Relief has raised over $3 million for victims of multiple disasters across four continents and planted over 810,000 trees to help reduce global warming.”

Habitat for Humanity and the Ricky Martin Foundation

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, speaks with members of Habitat for Humanity Haiti. (Photo courtesy of Habitat International)

“Together, we need to protect the children and families displaced by the earthquake in Haiti. Please donate now to the RMF/HFH Haiti fund and help us keep the children safe.”

—Ricky Martin

On January 19th, Ricky Martin traveled to Port-au-Prince with Habitat for Humanity International to visit one of the earthquake-ravaged neighborhoods.  ”Children and families impacted by this disaster will need long-term help restoring their lives – in every sense of the word.  Every family is a family in need.  I’m asking each of you to think about the future of the children.  What they will need to survive after they are properly fed and have received appropriate medical care is a safe and decent home.“

Martin’s statement addresses Habitat for Humanity’s twofold approach to disaster relief: immediate relief efforts and long-term shelter solutions for low-income families.

Habitat’s immediate response efforts include:

Cleaning up areas devastated by disaster in order to salvage materials that can be recycled in new shelter and to clear the way for home repair and construction.

Distributing shelter kits that include building materials and tools to help families and neighborhoods make immediate repairs to damaged homes.  The kits are usually made up of wall panels, roofing sheets, hurricane straps and a hammer and nails.

Building transitional shelters  to provide permanent base structures that can be developed over time.  The shelters will meet humanitarian standards of adequate living space and provision of water and sanitation.  The structures will also be designed with hurricane- and earthquake resistant features.

To help Habitat for Humanity’s relief efforts, click here.

The Ricky Martin Foundation advocates for the well-being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health.  To learn more about the Ricky Martin foundation, click here.

Molokai Habitat’s New Website!

We want to congratulate Molokai Habitat for Humanity on its new website.  Be sure to check it out for the latest construction schedule, contact info, and more!

You can visit Molokai Habitat’s website here.

Habitat for Humanity: Commitment to Haiti Recovery

Click on the above picture to help Habitat rebuild in Haiti.

From Habitat for Humanity International:

Based on what is known now and Habitat’s past experience with international disasters, our early response to the earthquake is expected to be threefold:

1) Mobilizing people to clear the way for shelter construction and home rehabilitation

2) Distributing building materials and tools in shelter kits

3) Construction of transitional housing

You can read the full report at the Haiti Recovery Factsheet, and you can donate to support Habitat’s relief efforts in Haiti here.

Make It a Day On, Not a Day Off!

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day, January 18th, Hawaii Habitat VISTAs joined Americans across the country as they spent their day off serving their communities.  Both of our VISTAs had a great time volunteering and meeting new people in the community.

Congratulations to Molokai Habitat!

Jan 12, 2010 – ATLANTA – Tile Partners for Humanity, Inc. (TPFH), an outreach organization for the tile industry and partner with Habitat for Humanity, announced that Dal-Tile Corp. has generously donated tile to TPFH. This donation was directed to the Molokai Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity builds simple, decent and affordable housing for low-income families in their local communities.

The donated tile went to the home of a single dad of three kids and a grandfather of one, all of whom live with him in the completed four-bedroom house. He is also a cancer survivor who has been in remission for three years now. In spite of being in recovery, he completed all of the preconstruction hours for the home himself.

When asked how it feels to be in his new house he said, “It is somewhat hard to describe, but I feel it is similar to being given a new toy that I have never seen before. Going from being homeless, to living with others, to renting, to finally being a homeowner is such a new experience that I find it difficult to express the feeling, but it is beyond my wildest dreams.”

“The tile countertops donated by Dal-Tile add value and sophistication to the house, and the tile floors in the bathroom are absolutely stunning,” said Emillia Noordhoek, resource development and marketing director for Tile Partners for Humanity. “We feel this is our best home yet, and the homeowner was trained to install all the tile himself! Thank you to Dal-Tile and all involved for making this dream a reality for our families. Mahalo Nui Loa.”

About Dal-Tile Corp.:
Dal-Tile Corp., a division of Mohawk Industries, is the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of ceramic tile and natural stone in North America. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company has more than 7,000 employees at its North American facilities and sells its products through a network of more than 250 company-owned sales service centers, independent distributors and leading home center retailers nationwide.

About Tile Partners for Humanity:
Formed in 2002, TPFH is a partnership between the tile industry and Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization working to eliminate substandard housing around the world. Industry partners provide tile, setting materials, tools, floor preparation materials, cleaners and sealers, labor and installation training to Habitat affiliates interested in building with tile. TPFH is a 5013c organization that grants tax relief for donations of materials or other support for our partnership. For more information about TPFH, please visit www.tpfh.com or contact Lynn Labuda at 770-416-0200.

Mahalo to Our 2009 Sponsors and Volunteers!

Mahalo Ad BAT 2009

We here at Hawaii Habitat would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our volunteers, families, and sponsors for making the sixth annual Build-A-Thon a tremendous success.

Thanks to OHA, Mega Construction Inc., Honsador Lumber, The Honolulu Advertiser, enVision, HPM Building Supply, Booz, Allen, Hamilton, HRPT Properties Trust, The Rotary Club, Aloha LPGAS, Kapolei Realty, Pearl Harbor Rotary International, FM 100, AES Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc., The Bill Healy Foundation, RSI, HTH Corporation, HUNT, HomeStreet Bank, Marriott Vacation Club, Starbucks Coffee, KTA Superstores, Tri-Isle Resource Conservation & Development Council of Hawaii, Betsill Brothers, Akamai Solar Power, Boeing, and Bierman Home Inspection, Inc.

To become a donor, Habitat for Humanity home owner or volunteer, please contact your local Habitat organization:

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity: (808) 538-7070

Habitat for Humanity Leeward O’ahu: (808) 696-7882

Habitat for Humanity West Hawai’i: (808) 331-8010

Habitat for Humanity Maui: (808) 893-0334

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity: (808) 538-7070

Kaua’i Habitat for Humanity: (808) 335-0296

Moloka’i Habitat for Humanity: (808) 560-5444

This Calls for a Celebration!

For the 2009 AHP Funded and Alternate Projects, First Hawaiian Bank was awarded a $360,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle.  By receiving this grant, Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association will use to assist in the construction of 30 single-family, owner-occupied units. The units will be constructed by seven Habitat for Humanity affiliates and will be located on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu. Eligible households will earn up to 60 percent of area median income and will receive homebuyer education from the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.