HISTORY

In 1988, Habitat for Humanity Costa Rica began working in Costa Rica in the town of Esparza. In its first three years, the affiliate of Esparza built 55 houses for families in need.

But, the work of the NGO was interrupted by the introduction of an ambitious government housing program in 1991, which offered a free housing grant that provided homes to the population with lack of resources. Therefore, Habitat had to cease building in Costa Rica.

However, in 1996, despite the efforts of the government and other entities related to the housing sector, they did not succeed in satisfying the needs of the families, and with an estimated 35 percent of the population living in deficient housing, the necessity for Habitat arose again.
In 1997, Habitat restarted its operations in San Ramón. Since then, we have founded eight regional affiliates in Nicoya, Esparza, Cartago, Alajuela, Monteverde, Buenos Aires and Rio Claro, which since December 2005 faced a process of reunification by region. Currently, we work primarily in four regions Region Central Valley, although its headquarters is located in Alajuela, also have offices in San Ramon and Cartago, Southern Region, Central Pacific Region and Region Guanacaste.

Habitat for Humanity-Costa Rica has 11 years of work in the country, contributing substantially to realize the right of every family to live and have decent housing. The action of the organization is reflected in hundreds of families in various parts of the country have made their dreams of having housing that celebrates their dignity and conducive to a better quality of life. The organization is founded on principles of solidarity, the contribution of voluntary work and the construction of housing with the participation of the beneficiary families.

During the first years of institutional life Habitat for Humanity Costa Rica was targeted at housing solutions consisting of the construction of new housing. More recently it has expanded the range of products offered by the organization, including among them the purchase of land, acquisition of housing built and RAMT (repairs, additions, improvements and endings) housing. Habitat took a transition process for the construction of individual houses located in residential construction projects.