A new solution to extreme poverty: the Hybrid House

During the last 42 years, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala (HFHG) has served more than 120,000 families with an adequate housing solution. In 2010, we started the Healthy Home Kit program as an effort to support families living in extreme poverty. This program consists of implementing a smokeless stove, sanitary latrine and water filter, among other solutions in households earning between $1 – $2 USD a day. Following the same goal of supporting families living in these conditions with more tangible solutions, in 2019, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala created the Hybrid Home, an affordable two-room house built using traditional materials including cement, wood and corrugated metal roofs. 

Quick facts the Hybrid Home: 

• At just $4,000 to $5,000 USD, it costs less than half the price of a standard HFHG home. 
• The home is partially subsidized for families that cannot afford to pay a mortgage. They contribute by being involved in the construction process. 
• The structure can be built in two-weeks. 
• To date, Habitat Guatemala has built over 60 homes. 

As previously explained, this solution is partially subsidized which means that beneficiary families are asked to contribute towards the cost of materials, provide unskilled labor such as preparing the adobe blocks, among other tasks.

Our goal is to continue supporting more families living in vulnerable conditions, such as Florencia Socom to ultimately improve their quality of life.

We invite you to be part of this project! Want to participate in building a Hybrid Home? Want to donate to support a family?

Steps to donate directly to Guatemala:

1. Click the following link:
   https://secure.habitat.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30037b?df_id=4974&mfc_pref=T&4974.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=99D394CBC57372D50287791AAE336345
2. Fill out your information and choose your payment option. You can donate by credit/debit card.
3. In Optional details, click on Designate your donation. When you click on this option, a box opens in the donation form. Choose the fourth option and select Guatemala.

Please write donor@habitatguate.org for further details about this program, and how you can support HFHG.