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Building Homes, Lifting Spirits in Colombia

19 Jul 2007 18:33:00 GMT
Source: Children International - USA
Erin Fitzgerald with Patricia Calderón

Website: Website: http://www.children.org

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Brightly colored homes with running water, electricity and working bathrooms line the streets in Villa Esperanza.
Jennifer Spaw

Background

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Milagro Ortega was willing to give up just about anything for her own home. And she did. More than a decade ago, she left her simple rented home in Barranquilla, Colombia, with its running water and electricity and set off for Villa Esperanza (Village of Hope), a community on the outskirts of the city. She and her family built a makeshift house using wood and plastic to form walls, metal for the roof, and dirt for the floor. Even though the house didn't offer the basic services that her home in Barranquilla had, it was worth it. "It was easier to handle the lack of services than the agony I felt coming up with the money each month for rent," she explained, pointing out how unstable her income is from washing and ironing clothes. For about 10 years, Milagro and her family lived in that home despite the horrible conditions. When it stormed, the wind blew water in through cracks in the walls. They constantly moved beds around to dodge the water. The dirt floor often turned to mud, and the humidity triggered asthma attacks in one of her daughters. Through the difficult times, Milagro, now a single mother, had Children International to count on for support - four of her six children are currently sponsored. And today, she and 249 other impoverished families are living in new homes, thanks in part to Children International.

Meeting housing needs in Villa Esperanza In the late 1990s, hundreds of families fleeing political violence and unrest in rural parts of the country sought refuge in Villa Esperanza, a squatter community near Barranquilla. Others like Milagro's family arrived in the community to seek a better life. The government started granting people title to the land, but the families were so poor that they lived in makeshift homes cobbled together with scrap material. After bringing sponsorship to the area, Children International recognized the need for a housing program, explained Tom Owens, director of grants for Children International. "A house is an expensive proposition if you're only making $80 or $90 a month," Owens noted. "Putting together $4,000 to $5,000 to build a decent house is just not realistic." Since 2003, Children International has helped build 250 homes in the area with assistance from CHF International, funding from the U.S. government's Agency for International Development, and aid from the Colombian government, foundations and companies. The families who were fortunate enough to receive homes helped in the construction process by providing labor like mixing cement and hauling materials. With block walls, a metal roof and concrete floors, the brightly colored homes have bedrooms, a living area and even a small kitchen and bathroom. They come complete with electricity and running water - a luxury for many families in our program.

The waiting game It was the longest two months of Milagro's life. As she and her family went through the screening process to receive a new home, Milagro felt like the waiting would never end. When Luz Marina Rueda, family assistance coordinator for Children International's Barranquilla office, informed Milagro that she had been selected to receive a home, Milagro couldn't contain her excitement. "She almost choked me in a hug," Rueda recalls. Milagro's eyes tear up as she recalls that moment. "It gave me a great happiness," she said. "Immediately in my head, I thought a lot of problems will be solved now, especially during the rainy season." Families were selected to receive homes based on interviews and a socioeconomic survey, explained Rueda. Milagro and her family were chosen because of their terrible living conditions and how her children's health was being affected. Since moving into her new home, Milagro has seen positive change take place. "Now when it rains, I don't have to worry about the place flooding," she enthusiastically conveyed. "If I want to sit down, I can sit down on the floor because it's not dirt or mud. My children no longer suffer." While Milagro and her family still encounter many difficulties living in poverty, at least she and the other 249 families who benefited from our housing project have a safe and secure place to call home - an asset words can't begin to adequately describe.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Thu Jul 19 18:42:58 2007