Global Housing Partners

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We are all familiar with the military's use of stacked sandbags for wall strength, durability and protection. Global Housing Partners provides a stacked concrete bag system of wall construction to help solve the housing crisis of the poor and homeless of our society.

Homelessness is the most extreme form of social exclusion. It is a strong indicator of social injustice in any society. Homeless individuals are prevented from participating in social, economic, political and cultural life, placing them at a disadvantage when faced with life choices.

Housing is a basic human need, yet the statistics of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2005 notes that an estimated 100 million people live without shelter, or in unhealthy and unacceptable conditions. This is a growing problem in addition, there is the problem of poor housing. Housing that will not survive storms, heavy rains, flooding or earthquakes. Today, estimates of the world’s homeless population plus those living in poor housing can reach a figure of ONE BILLION PEOPLE.

It is important to recognize that while homelessness affects individuals, it also has a significant impact on the society in general.

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 25.Par. 1. States that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living, adequate for the wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and the necessary social services….” A decent home to live in provides the basis for the solution to all of the other social problems facing the homeless populations.

WHAT DOES ADEQUATE HOUSING MEAN?

The UN-Habitat Agenda defines adequate shelter in the following manner: “Adequate shelter means more than a roof over one’s head. It also means adequate privacy; adequate space; physical accessibility; adequate security; security of tenure; structural stability and durability; adequate lighting, heating and ventilation; adequate basic infrastructure, such as water-supply, sanitation and waste-management facilities; suitable environmental quality and health-related factors; and adequate and accessible location with regard to work and basic facilities: all of which should be available at an affordable cost. Adequacy should be determined together with the people concerned, bearing in mind the prospect for gradual development. Adequacy often varies from country to country, since it depends on specific cultural, social, environmental and economic factors. Gender-specific and age-specific factors such as exposure of children and women to toxic substances should be considered in this context.” (UNCHS, 1997: paragraph 60).

It is obvious from past history, that the governments of the world have done little to alleviate the problem of homelessness, or inadequate shelter. The truth of the matter is that there is little political will or incentive, to approach such an immense problem facing that sector of humanity, that has so little political, or financial clout. To be successful in dealing with the homeless crisis, we must move away from large governmental bureaucratic programs, and address our efforts to the individualized needs of the world’s local populations through private Non-Governmental Organizations.

SOLUTION

The solution lies with the people of the world, co-operating in a joint global effort, working together as partners, to solve the housing problem at the local level. Global Housing Partners addresses these urgent needs, and provides a simple and economical “do-it-yourself”, home Construction System that is low-tech and low-cost, that can be utilized by the local village populations of the world, working with local partners to build their own rugged, climate and earthquake resilient homes.

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Who We Are

Global Housing Partners provides the answer to a low-cost; low-tech; "do-it-yourself;" concrete bag system, to help solve the housing crisis of the poor and homeless, of our society.