Description of organisation

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat has served more than 22 million people since it began in the US in 1976. Every day, Habitat for Humanity works beside families to build, renovate or repair their home in 70 countries around the world. We advocate to improve access to affordable shelter and support funding models that enable families with limited resources make vital improvements to their homes. In Northern Ireland, we bring people together from across the community to serve the most vulnerable. In addition, we raise funds to support long-term partner programmes in some of our world’s poorest communities.

When Habitat NI was established in 1993, Northern Ireland was still in the grip of ‘The Troubles’ and segregation of communities was at its most extreme. The vision was to use the Habitat model locally as a way for communities and individuals to rebuild trust and restore relationships; bring Catholics and Protestants together to build houses with families in need – simply to build houses, build community and build hope. 26 years on the Habitat model has proved to be a success in Northern Ireland, bringing together more than 30,000 volunteers from all backgrounds and faiths to work together for the good of families in need.
Mobilising volunteers as effective advocates around the critical need for housing in breaking the cycle of poverty is a strategic priority. Deepening participation and understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals ’s (SDG’s) through development education and awareness raising focuses on engaging young people and the wider community.

Through Habitat ReStore, thousands of local families have access to low-cost home improvement materials, learning and employability training is provided for people of all ages and tons of material is diverted from landfill every year. European Solidarity Corps volunteers will find an open, welcoming and diverse operation which will provide a broad range of roles across 4 geographic locations in Northern Ireland; Lisburn, Ballymena, Newry and Newtownards.

Inclusion topics

This organisation is willing to involve volunteers who face situations which make their participation in activities more difficult, from the following categories for different types of project:

• Cultural differences
• Geographical obstacles
• Health problems