Housing conference
Response of Group of Support to
Repatriates and Refugees (GARR) to the
housing crisis in Haiti
“Kay koule ka twonpe solèy, men l pa ka twonpe lapli”
Fooling the sun, but not fooling the rain
George Washington University
November 24, 2014
Presentation of GARR
• Founded in 1991 to face a humanitarian
disaster caused by the repatriation and
expulsion of more than 75,000 people from
the Dominican Republic
• Intervention in favor of internally displaced
people after the earthquake of 2010
Mission and Vision
• Mission of GARR
GARR’s mission is to promote the respect and defense of the
rights of migrants. It concentrates its efforts on repatriates,
refugees, users of the Haitian-Dominican border, and since the
earthquake of January 12, 2010 in Haiti, on internally
displaced people.
• Vision of GARR
GARR believes that migration is a social, global phenomenon,
that includes positive and negative aspects for both the
country of origin and the host country. Respecting the rights
of immigrants can contribute to bringing people closer
together, as well as social justice and solidarity in society.
Objectives
• General objective of GARR
– Promote and defend the rights of migrants in regard to the
establishment of more just and solidary relations between people.
• Specific objectives
– Develop advocacy activities in order to change policies, practices and
laws that are unfavorable to migrants, to adopt decisions that are
likely to improve their living conditions, and to promote good relations
between people, particularly between Haiti and the Dominican
Republic.
– Encourage local initiatives for the organization of a more dignified
welcome of repatriates, refugees and other migrants, humanitarian
and legal assistance to victims of violations of human rights.
– Facilitate the reintegration and rehabilitation in Haiti of repatriates,
refugees and displaced people.
Area of intervention
• Southern part of the border area
– Centre department
• Belladère
• Lascahobas
• Thomassique
– West department
• Anse-à-Pitre
• Fond-Verrettes
Work axes
• Advocacy
• Reception of victims, humanitarian assistance,
reintegration/social rehabilitation
• Organizational strengthening
Situation of the area right after the
earthquake
• Four (4) camps of internally displaced people
– Decauvil : 96 families
– Juampa : 84 families
– Platanal : 26 families
– Chambouin : 46 families
252 families with 3 people minimum and 10
maximum
Interventions of GARR
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Advocacy
Humanitarian assistance
Payment of rent
Construction of houses
Income generating revenues
Training
Follow-up and evaluation
Transfer of responsibilities
Advocacy
• Advocacy campaigns have taken place on the right on
lodging
• More than 226 articles published
• A partnership has been developed with Amnesty
International
• Creation of 9 housing cooperatives: 5 at Plateau Central
(KOLOTA, KOLOMM, KLAD, KOLOSO, KOLOTA) and 4 within
the West department (MUSOL, KOLOS, KOLOLAM, COSOLS)
• Advocacy with the National Council of Cooperatives for a
law governing the housing cooperatives
• Participation at the round table on housing
• Recommendation for the writing of a document of a
national plan on housing
Humanitarian assistance
252 internally displaced families have received
humanitarian assistance at the Plateau Central
500 families have received humanitarian
assistance in Port-au-Prince
Payment of rent
• 200 families at Plateau Central
• 250 families in Port-au-Prince, West
department
Construction of houses
85 houses were built at the Plateau Central,
Belladère and Lascahobas:
– 10 at Dos Bois Rouge, locality of the section of
Juampas,
– 7 at Roche Mulâtre, locality of the section of Petit
Fond,
– 34 at the solidarity village, section of Juampas;
– 7 in the commune of Belladère,
– 25 in Décauvil
– 2 in the community of Lacoline
Dimension and cost of houses
• Surface of houses:
42.5 m2
• Cost per house:
$ 8,000 US
Construction of houses
Land for construction
• The land where the solidarity village was built
is a gift of the local authorities. The deputy
played an important role in the negotiations.
• Landowners, especially in the localities of
Décauvil, Dos-Bois-Rouge and Roche Mulatre,
benefited from a house on their respective
properties.
Special considerations
• The houses were built according to earthquake-resistant principles
• The materials used were tested by specialists before their use at the
construction
• 90% of the materials were collected within the localities. This has
not only considerably reduced costs, but it has also allowed the
support of the local economy.
• The support of the participants/beneficiaries has been accounted
for in the budget of the construction of each house (their support is
estimated at about 20% of expenses)
• The participants were consulted about the architecture of the
houses before the launch of the project
• The recommendations of the participants were taken into account
during the implementation of the project
Income generating activities
Training
Some selection criteria
• Internally displaced people for the solidarity
village
• Single-parent families with several children
• Solidary families who received internally
displaced people. They benefited from a
construction at their property.
• Families without revenues
Follow-up and evaluation
• At the Plateau Central, in Lascohabas, there is
no longer a camp.
• A village was built with 34 houses for
internally displaced people, the majority of
whom was living in a tent after the
earthquake.
Transfer of responsability
• Management of the solidarity village has been
entrusted to the housing cooperative KOLOSO
• Management of the systems of supply of
drinking water entrusted to the committees in
collaboration with the National Direction of
Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA)
• 425 youth were trained in manual professions
Funding sources
• Christian Aid
• ICCO
• Kerk In Actie
• Etc.
Summary of recommendations
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Set up a real national housing plan
Set up social projects of housing with living spaces
Dissolve the Unit of Construction of Houses and Public Buildings (UCLBP)
Strengthen capacities of the Public Enterprise of Promotion of Social
Housing (EPPLS)
Encourage housing cooperatives
Create a legal framework for social housing cooperatives
Fund social housing projects set up by housing cooperatives
Favor access to credit for social housing
Favor access to credit for income generating activities of small and
medium enterprises
Make credit available to farmers
Make technologies available that allow the optimization of harvests
Involve the participants/beneficiaries in all phases of housing projects
Thank you