In Haiti, new houses mean confidence and security

In Ganthier and Boen, Haiti, CWS leads an ACT Alliance program to improve living conditions for families by increasing access to dignified, safe housing and improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities. This program started in 2011 to help families who were living in camps following the devastating earthquake in 2010.

Betty Joseph is a beneficiary in Boen. Here is her story:

“I live together with my husband Lemon Demosthenes, our 5 children and my younger brother. I buy and sell products at the market of Croix-des-Bouquets; rice, detergent, soap; whatever I can get. We used to have a mud-and-stick house, but it got destroyed in the earthquake and then we had to live in the camp. Life in the camp was not good, but we had to accept it as we had no other option. The pastor told us to pray, but we did not believe.

Today I feel happy, as I have a nice house built with blocks, which marks a change in my life. Now we can sleep with confidence and security. I helped a lot with the construction; I carried bags of cement, mortar, buckets of water, and prepared food. In our old house whenever it rained we had to fix the walls, but now that we have a house of blocks there is no need for that anymore. The house is strong, it has a lot of cement and rebar. I asked for a middle beam in all the walls of the house when I saw they only added one under the windows.

This is a gift of God and I hope that everyone who was in the camp will have a house like the one I have now. We will pray before moving into the house.”

Betty’s daughter Samelie, had this to say:

“I am 12 years old. Thank you for giving me a house. We didn’t have a house, we were sleeping in an old shelter of mud and sticks, but you gave me a house. The rain is not making me wet anymore. When I was in the old house the rain would make me wet. We will pray to God for those who do not yet have a house so that they can also get a house. Thank you.”