Somfy's Brazilian subsidiary supports the Habitat for Humanity project to: - prevent illness and serious accidents - improve inadequate and unsanitary housing conditions - provide greater comfort for disadvantaged families. Many of its residents live in sub-standard housing. Between , and , people live in this community. Habitat for Humanity is developing this project and identifying families in need, giving them financial aid and technical assistance to create decent living conditions. All households requesting help are first visited, then families are selected on the basis of their vulnerability, their state of health, the precariousness of housing and their socio-economic situation.
While these repairs are basic, they do help families regain the dignity they deserve. These families now have homes in which they are not ashamed to invite friends. These repairs improve the overall health of the family.
And it is not just the person who asks for help who benefits but the whole family. In , twelve families, i. The program involves renovating 22 houses in one of the large favelas in the city. Every time it rained, the house would get damp. I'm so happy now! The smell of mould that was in the house has gone. In the bedroom, we had to use three buckets to catch water and it would rain on our beds.
I would clean the house and place buckets all over. The window was too small to air the room adequately. And the roof tiles were coming off.
All our clothes smelt musty but with the new window we have lots of fresh air now. The house is so much nicer now! I'm so happy! Before, when it was windy or it rained, the tiles would fly off. Now, it's different. I can live in peace! This year's objective is to repair eight homes and help eight mothers and their children by giving them access to a healthier home thanks to renovated kitchens and bathrooms. The aim of "Habitat for Humanity" is to create better social conditions and provide technical assistance, e.
