HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

In Cambodia, people living with HIV are frequently discriminated against and stigmatised.  Many are rejected by their families, communities and places of employment and have had to sell their assets in an attempt to treat their illnesses.  A large proportion also migrate from rural areas to the capital, Phnom Penh, seeking treatment and new economic opportunities, but often find themselves living on the streets or in overcrowded, unsanitary slums.  In doing so, they become landless, homeless and unemployed. 

 
Proper housing plays a critical role in ensuring those diagnosed with HIV remain connected to basic social support systems and are not overwhelmed by the burden of their illness.  A safe and secure home enables them to avoid sliding into abject poverty and provides a necessary base to access healthcare, food aid and skills training, as well as to support their children.  Without this, parents are often not able to access treatment, struggle to provide food and education for their families and their children too often resort to crime or prostitution simply to survive.

Habitat for Humanity champions the right of poor and vulnerable people to a decent place to live.  For more than 30 years they have partnered with communities in over 90 countries worldwide to deliver collaborative and lasting solutions to housing problems.  In this time over 1.75m people have benefited from the 350,000 homes renovated or built.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation approached Habitat to work with them on developing a programme for HIV affected families in Phnom Penh that not only provides a safe home from which to re-engage with the community but continued access to medical and social support as well as employment training opportunities for people benefiting from the housing solutions.  As such, it offers ’housing plans’ to people who desperately need it.  By helping families stabilise and get back on their feet, this grant responds to the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s mission to support self determination and dignity for people living with HIV.

You can support this great programme by buying a brick, 5 bricks, 100 bricks or a whole house in our Build a House in Cambodia campaign.  Individual bricks cost just £10 and every one will contribute to providing a decent place to live for a HIV affected family.