Rick Hathaway at a press conference. He is flanked by Margie Moran-Floirendo and Alberto Hugo.

More than a billion people in the planet don’t have the means to live in decent homes that have plumbing, electricity and other infrastructure that make a neighborhood a safe and healthy place to live in. Consequently, people who can only afford to live in a slum area expose themselves to disease, pollution and even criminal elements.

Rick Hathaway, the Asia Pacific vice president for Habitat for Humanity International, says that that a slum area can actually be rehabilated and serve a useful purpose in providing decent housing for low-income earners.

Hathaway was in Manila last week to attend Habitat’s second Asia-Pacific Housing Forum held at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City. The forum was attended by a total of 432 delegates from various countries in Asia, Africa and North America.  The event was designed to form strategies and solutions to convert slums into productive assets of cities. Concrete cases or innovations to make the urban housing work for the poor were likewise presented during the event.

At a press conference, Hathaway cited a slum rehabilitation scheme presented by the delegates of India. The concept, which was used by a financial institution and a private real estate developer, entailed the re-housing of slum dwellers on-site. “Freed-up land was developed and sold on commercial terms. This showcased a replicable solution to urban poverty housing that other cities in India and in Asia could consider adapting,” he said.

Habitat for Humanity International is a global non-government organization that aims to eliminate poverty housing. Since it was founded in the US in 1976, Habitat has built and rehabilitated more than 300, 000 houses worldwide. The houses provide decent, simple and affordable shelter to more than 1.5 million people. The residents had actually helped build the homes they now live in and are paid for through affordable, non-profit loans.

Meanwhile, in the local scene, Habitat for Humanity Philippines president Alberto V. Hugo noted that Habitat has managed to help approximately 5,000 families a year. He hopes to increase this figure to 70,000 families within the next five years. Habitat, he said, is utilizing every means to make this low-cost housing available to more families. Non-profits loans from the organization are available though easy terms. He cites the fact that the default rate in these loans has so far been very low. “Approximately 99 percent of the borrowers have managed to pay back their loans,” he pointed out. “The home partners are always happy to pay back the loans. It’s better than a banking loan. We’re better than banks because we have Christian values.”

To keep construction costs low, Habitat relies on low-cost labor and volunteerism. The home’s future resident (or home partner) also assists in the building of the house.

Habitat is also supported by a separate organization dubbed Friends of Habitat, which is co-chaired by former Miss Universe Margie Moran-Floirendo. Floriendo has used her celebrity status and clout to keep Habitat alive in the public consciousness. She was a member of the board of trustees of Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Yet despite the limited budget used for construction, the houses are solid and well-built. Hugo also assured that an association is formed in every community Habitat builds. “Rules and regulations are enforced to ensure that the community remains safe and clean. It also makes sure that the residents don’t sell their homes,” he told Manila Bulletin.