Homes Not Houses - Building a sustainable future together

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

In a groundbreaking move, World Vision Lanka together with Habitat for Humanity, launched a multi-faceted housing project for Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu Districts. The EU funded Project costing 14 million Euro will benefit 2455 families.

“Children in these regions have undergone untold misery and agony for generations and decades due to the protracted armed conflict. Every child needs to be protected and cherished, and shelter is crucial to this,” Said Dhanan Senathirajah, National Director World Vision Lanka in his message to mark the event.

The most vulnerable war-affected returnees including women-headed families and persons with disabilities, who had been victims of conflict in these areas will be served through this enterprise.  

The Project which anticipates to bridge the gap between relief, rehabilitation and development for resilient and secure communities in the North and East, aims to build 2,315 houses and repair 140 homes in 31 Divisions across Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu by early 2020.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives for the Delegation of the European Union, Tung-Laï Margue said, "I am hopeful that this project will assist in providing returnee families with not just homes and livelihood alternatives but also the necessary support to rebuild a life and a future for themselves. The goal has always been to turn the cycle of impoverishment and reliance to that of self-sufficiency, and I am encouraged to see that we are moving in the right direction through this initiative".

Adequate shelter or housing is a universal basic human need and a right.  The Habitat for Humanity emphasized on the importance of the governments’ role to promote, protect and ensure the full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing at the Istanbul +5 forum in 1996.  

"The project is aptly entitled ‘Homes not Houses’. We certainly desire to see flourishing communities that are self-sufficient, stable and strong, once our construction efforts are complete and we have withdrawn. Thanks to the focus of this funding from the European Union, the Project aspires to boost the local economy by investing in earth-based technologies which are cost-effective and sustainable,” noted Dr. Dinesh Kanagaratnam, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka.

Affordable housing brings stability, economic diversity and improves the psychosocial wellbeing and the quality of life for children and families.

The innovative Homes, Not just Houses Project focuses on introducing cost-effective, labor intensive and alternative technologies to promote local economic development. Skilled labourers will be trained on alternative technologies as well as other construction work, whilst the material will be from the locality.

Further, the beneficiary will be supported to develop Land Usage Plan for efficient and effective usage of their land, considering basic requirements (minimum standards) as per  government rules and regulations. They will also be linked to relevant government and other service providers to obtain technical support for appropriate land usage plan. 

Building of community capacity in order to respect rule and order of the government for ensuring peace and harmony through reducing land tenure issues, is also another aspect being looked at.

Higher level of project synergy is a definite result for both Habitat for Humanity and World Vision Lanka as equal level partners for ensuring the project outcomes.

Commenting, on this endeavor, National Director of World Vision Lanka, Dhanan Senathirajah said “We are proud to be associated with this project. One of the main strengths of World Vision Lanka is its community engagement and livelihood development expertise. I believe our interventions in this sphere will be key to transform houses into happy and stable homes.”