Safe shelters

Our Response

Thanks to your generosity, Compassion is working with 34 frontline church partners in Haiti to provide safe shelter to 11,741 families impacted by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that devastated the southern region of the country in August 2021.

The large-scale impact of the earthquake required this intervention to be carried out in multiple phases. Transitional spaces were first constructed, providing children with a safe space to live and continue their education as they waited for their new homes to be constructed. In total, 11,741 families were provided with safe shelter. Twenty-six transitional schools were also built, ensuring children and youth did not fall behind on their studies. All 11,741 families have also been provided financial assistance to pay for housing repairs or one-year housing if needed.

During the next phase, the team evaluated the structural integrity of the buildings that survived the earthquake. Compassion enlisted an assessment firm to perform seismic evaluations and geotechnical studies at the construction sites. The reports found that some schools and churches required repairs. In total, 16 frontline churches were identified as requiring structural repairs to ensure the safety of children and staff.

Since our last report, four church facilities have been fully repaired and reinforced and four churches are currently undergoing repairs. Eight churches have yet to undergo construction. Due to instability across the country and inflation, acquiring all the necessary building materials has been a challenge throughout this intervention and has caused delays. The team has also had to wait longer than anticipated for assessments to be completed at some sites, causing further delays and requiring an extension of 18 months to complete this intervention.

Activities

Construction in progress: Construction continues at some Compassion centre facilities and schools. Workers have been building new roofs, reinforcing walls and repairing structural damage.

School repairs: School facilities at many of the Compassion centres in Haiti were damaged by the earthquake. After months of hard work, some of the facilities have been fully repaired and students can now attend scheduled programs once again.

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