According to a 2016 study, “Barriers to access to land for social housing in Honduras,” by Habitat for Humanity Honduras, the country’s housing deficit exceeds 1.3 million units. The study, whose data was updated in 2020, showed new homes comprised 38% or 522,076 units of the backlog. The remaining 844,615 units were homes that needed improvements. In addition, 11.5% of the households surveyed did not have access to tap water and 23% of the houses had dirt floors.
Habitat addresses the need through housing solutions which include access to land and adequate housing for low-income Honduran families through loans with affordable repayment terms. Families are able to build or repair their homes and gain access to secure land tenure by paying in installments. In addition, financial support in the form of subsidies has enabled families in extreme poverty to improve their quality of life.
We also work with indigenous families who comprise about 9% of Honduras’ ethnic population. Support from Habitat’s U.S. affiliates through tithes as well as from local donors helps these families living in extreme poverty to improve their homes. We have supported various ethnic groups such as Lencas, Misquitos, Chortí, Garifunas, Tolupán, and Pech.
