The United States non-governmental organization, Habitat for Humanity, opened one of its regional housing forums in Jordan on Wednesday with the aim of building houses for low-income families.
The MENA Housing Forum is part of a global series of housing forums organized by the non-profit organization in collaboration with partner organizations in different regions of the world.
During the opening ceremony, Minister of Public Works and Housing Yahya Kisbi said the housing and infrastructure sector is a key to achieving the desired sustainable civil development, lauding Habitat’s positive impact in Jordan and its contribution to providing appropriate residences and maintaining existing buildings.
Manager for Jordan and MENA at Habitat Mousa Naffa noted that 70 percent of Jordanian families, according to World Bank reports, can not afford the costs of decent housing, while other estimates indicate that 30 percent of Jordanians and 48 percent of Syrian refugees lack access to affordable houses.
The forum tackled challenges facing housing institutions and promoted reducing housing costs, as well as enhancing climate adaptability, and encouraging innovative construction plans for sustainable houses and facilities.
Habitat started working in Jordan in 2002 under an agreement with the government and is currently operating in four villages in cooperation with local communities and volunteers from local and foreign societies.
More than 10,000 families, or 50,000 individuals, benefited from Habitat’s services, which facilitated their reach to shelter and improved their living through financial aid, green buildings, and the rehabilitation of infrastructures and facilities in partnership with the ministries of social development, health, and education and local organizations.
Source: Jordan News Agency