Safe shelters

Our Response

With your generous support, Compassion is working alongside 34 frontline church partners in Haiti to provide safe shelter to 11,741 families impacted by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the southern region of the country in August 2021.

Due to the widespread impact of this devastating earthquake, this intervention is being implemented in multiple phases. During the first phase, 11,741 families were provided with a safe space to live while they waited for their new homes to be constructed. In addition, 26 transitional schools were constructed, allowing children and youth to continue their education. Thanks to your generous gift, all 11,741 families were provided financial assistance to pay for housing repairs or one-year housing if needed.

During the second phase, Compassion enlisted an assessment firm to perform seismic evaluations and geotechnical studies at the construction sites to assess the structural integrity of the buildings that survived the earthquake. The firm completed the assessment and found that 16 frontline churches needed structural repairs to keep children and staff safe. At the time of our last interim report, four churches had completed construction and four were undergoing repairs. Construction at eight churches had yet to begin due to instability across the country and inflation, which made it difficult for the team to obtain the required materials and complete assessments.

Armed conflict in many communities, political instability and inflation have remained a challenge. However, despite these obstacles, this intervention is progressing well. In total, seven churches have now fully completed repairs and construction. At these churches, Compassion centre programming has resumed for children and youth, who receive nourishing meals, educational support and loving guidance from Christian adults on program days. Construction is also underway at eight additional church facilities, each currently at different stages of progress.

Following an assessment, it was determined that repairs at the HA0128 facility would not be possible. The local government has announced plans to redevelop the area, which includes the demolition of existing damaged buildings to make way for new infrastructure.

Activities

Safe facilities: In total, seven frontline churches have completed construction and repairs on their facilities. Centre staff have resumed programming and have welcomed back children and youth.

Church gatherings: Now that seven church buildings have been repaired, congregants are happy to return to their normal meeting locations and worship God together in a safe environment.

Construction: Construction is actively progressing at eight church facilities, with each site moving forward at its own stage of development, varying from 10 to 60 per cent of completion. Church and centre staff are excited to welcome congregants and children again once construction is complete.

Your Gift Provides...

This intervention is providing vital disaster recovery to assist 34 church partners and about 11,741 families in Haiti who lost their homes due to the devastating earthquake of August 2021: 

Transitional spaces for 34 local church partners: 
– Sheet metal, wood, cement, sand and gravel 
– Transportation and labour 

Temporary shelters for 12,000 beneficiary families and 4 staff: 
– Sheet metal, wood, cement, sand and gravel 
– Transportation and labour 

Administration and implementer costs: 
– Salary, meals, fuel and lodging