Un Techo para mi Pais Commits to Build 10,000 Homes for Haiti

SANTIAGO, Chile, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the context of the Clinton Global Initiative 6th Annual Meeting, Un Techo para mi Pais (UTPMP) has committed to build 10,000 houses in Haiti in the next four years. This commitment builds on the organization's previous participation at the Clinton Global Initiative University meetings that took place at the University of Miami in April 2010, where 2,000 homes for Haiti were pledged. This is UTPMP's first participation at the CGI.

UTPMP has committed to address the urgent and immediate need for transitional housing in Haiti by building 10,000 homes by January 2014 in response to the earthquake that affected the country on January 12, 2010. UTPMP's transitional houses are a rapid and efficient shelter solution for families who are currently living in shelter clusters. Yet, given the materials used, these homes have a ten-year longevity period when adequately taken care of. The long lasting nature of UTPMP's transitional homes creates a greater potential for the creation of sustainable communities.

Recognizing the importance of strong social networks for the sustainability of a community, UTPMP also commits to follow-up construction with a focused and demand-driven social inclusion program that will empower communities to secure basic services, sewage systems, and drinking water. Social inclusion programs also include the construction of educational and vocational training centers providing actively engaged participants with skills that open doors to the job market. Currently, UTPMP is implementing different models of social inclusion program in eight different Latin American countries. Together, the constructions and inclusion programs will benefit over 20,000 people during the time of implementation.

UTPMP's strategy towards Haiti focuses on key aspects within two major areas of the framework for reconstruction presented in the Haiti National Plan for National, Recovery and Development. In regards to social rebuilding, UTPMP will reconstruct affected areas and develop educational programs for settlement families as a part of social inclusion programs. Along with the constructions, these programs will also support economic rebuilding given prefabrication will be done by local manufacturers and the vocational centers in the communities will provide skills to the most vulnerable and unskilled men and women of the targeted communities.

Already, UTPMP has completed over 600 transitional homes, with about 300 more to be completed in October; by the end of the 2010 around 1,000 families will have a safe and secure place to call home. An additional 1,000 homes will be completed in January 2011 to commemorate a year since the earthquake bringing the total of houses constructed to 2,000 by February 2011. Over the next 4 years, UTPMP will organize a series of constructions to close-out the program in 2014 with a total of 10,000 homes.

UTPMP is a volunteer based organization that strives to improve the quality of life of impoverished families in Latin America through the construction of transitional housing and social inclusion programs.

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SOURCE Un Techo para mi Pais