Habitat for Humanity Jordan

Contact information HFH Jordan PO Box 910614 Amman 11191 Jordan Phone: +962 64612081 Fax: +962 64612082 E-mail: info@habitatjordan.org				Habitat's Work in Jordan New families served this year*: 72 Total homes constructed/rehabilitated: 456 House sponsorship cost: US$10,140         Jordan News and Stories Reviving a community
Country profile

Why Habitat is needed in Jordan
Jordan is a small country of approximately 6 million people. Jordan benefits from relative political stability and one of the most educated populace in the Arab world, but war and turmoil in the region have weakened the economy. Jordan has no oil and inadequate supplies of water. The vast majority of Jordanians live on less than US$5,000 per year.

Unemployment is high and on the rise, especially in rural villages, where agriculture is a major source of employment, but is seasonal and low-paying. Extended families survive by combining the income of two or three members.

In the villages, families tend to have many children, and out of tradition and economic necessity, extended families live together under one roof. It is not uncommon for 12 to 15 family members to share a small two-room house.

Overcrowded living conditions such as these endanger the health and well-being of occupants. The lack of privacy increases family tension and makes it difficult for children to sleep and study. Women struggle to cook in makeshift kitchens with dirt floors. Without proper food storage cabinets, pests and rodents are a constant challenge. Unsanitary toilet facilities bring additional health risks.

Jordan is also facing an urban housing crisis. Seventy percent of the population lives in cities, 63 percent in Amman, Zarqa and Irbid alone. Refugee inflows, continued migration to the cities and the high level of urban poverty have left large numbers of families without adequate shelter. These families suffer from a variety of problems resulting from overcrowding and poor-quality housing, including unsanitary conditions, sexual abuse and social alienation. Inadequate housing fosters a sense of helplessness and marginalization among the poor, most of who believe they are powerless to improve their living environments.

How Habitat helps
Habitat for Humanity Jordan began its work in 2001 and is currently working in four rural villages, where the average family consists of seven children. HFHJ is also working in urban communities in the Greater Amman area. Families contribute an average of US$1,800 toward their own house—through voluntary labor and donated materials. Houses are made of cement blocks; the largest measures 55 square meters. Each new house brings greater opportunities for families to lead safe, healthy and productive lives.

Highlights

• Each house represents an opportunity to build relationships across cultures, religions and classes, which consequently builds peace, as the houses themselves become symbols of cooperation and compassion. A Habitat homeowner in the Greater Amman area said, “When I look at this house, I will remember all of the people from around the world who built it, and I will remember that there are good people all over the world, in every country.” In a region where relations are often fragile, building houses together creates a spirit of solidarity and a new understanding between families, their neighbors and volunteers from around the world.
• Habitat Jordan hosts groups of international volunteers and local school and corporate groups to build houses with homeowner families. For many volunteers, the experience has been profound. One participant recounted, “When I left Jordan, I took with me a deeper sense of humanity, much stronger than the walls I helped build half a world away.”

Facts about Jordan
Location: Middle East
Population: 5.7 million
Languages: Arabic (official) and English
Climate: Mostly arid desert; rainy season in the West (November–April)
Religions: Islam and Christianity
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Economy: Industries include phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tourism and agriculture