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About Habitat for Humanity Dominican Republic
HFH officialy began in the Dominican Republic in 1986 in the community of Los Cocos, Barahona. By 1989 the first 53 houses had been built. The Enriquillo community was soon to follow in the footsepts of Los Cocos.
As a result of the destruction that Hurricane George left in the Dominican Republic in 1998 a Habitat disaster relief program was created. 461 houses were repaired in the Southeast through this program.
Currently there are 9 affiliates in the Dominican Republic: Barahona, Polo, Paraíso, Tamayo, Nagua, Jaquimeyes, San Juan and San Francisco de Macoris and Santo Domingo. People in these regions live in houses made of wook, palm trees or discarded materials. Their rooves are made of rusty zink plates. In many cases there are two families living in one house, and it is not uncommon to find grandparents, parents and children living in the same room, sharing beds.
Taking into consideration the island’s weather, HFH Dominican Republic (HPHDR) builds sturdy homes resistan to hurricanes, which are common on the island. HPHDR houses have two or three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom in a space between 36m2 and 56m2. Habitat has built over 1,824 housing solutions at an estimated cost of US $8,500 each.
Currently, HFH’s houses are built in seven zones: Barahona, Paraíso, Tamayo, Jaquimeyes, Tamayo, Nagua and San Juan de la Maguana. There are different models, depending on the family’s needs and possibilities:
• 50m2 houses have a living-dining room, a kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom, with an average cost of RD $273,979 (approximately US$6,850).
• 40.m2 houses have a living-dining room, a kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom, with an average cost of RD $211,139 (approximately US$5,300).
• 36m2 houses have a living-dining room, a kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom, with an average cost of RD $206,338 (approximately US$5,200).
• 48m2 houses have a living-dining hall, a kitchen, three bedrooms and bathroom, with an average cost of RD $226,263 (US $5,700).
The houses are repaid in 8 to 12 years, with an aproximated average monthly payment of RD$1,500, which is much more economical than the cost of renting living quarters in poor conditions.
The following materials are used in construction: blocks, cement, iron rods, sand and gravel. These materials are weather-resistant, since there are annual hurricane threats from July to November. These materials can be easily purchased in the country, although at a very high price.
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