After a great joint effort by the families and the diocesan habitat team of Cruz del Eje, accompanied by the national team of Cáritas Argentina and the municipalities, on November 27, 2023, 50 families participating in the “assisted and participatory self-construction through self-effort and mutual help” plan were formally handed over their new home on November 27, 2023.

On this occasion, they are 15 homes located in the municipality of "Las Playas" and another 35 in "El Brete", towns located in the department of Cruz del Eje, in the Province of Córdoba. The projects began in April 2022 and their construction required 18 months of work.

After an emotional ceremony of handing over the keys to the new owners, Cáritas Cruz del Eje and the two municipalities committed to accompanying the families in the efforts to obtain the deeds for them.

The construction of these homes generated a socioeconomic impact of great significance in the area because, thanks to the networking with local organizations, municipalities and neighboring businesses, everyone mutually benefited by providing the materials and other inputs for the construction of the houses.

At the same time, as the families are the ones who build their own homes, an installed capacity in construction trades (masonry, plumbing, ceramic laying, etc.) was generated that allows us to envision a rapid insertion or improvement in the employment situation for the project participants.

More housing in progress

There are several projects that are being developed in the country. In the diocese of Oberá, province of Misiones, on December 22, another 30 homes were delivered in Colonia Alberdi, whose construction had begun in September 2022. In the diocese of Villa María, province of Córdoba, for its part, there are 3 projects underway: in the small town of Chilibroste, 22 homes are expected to be inaugurated at the beginning of next year, and in Ballesteros and Fotheringham, 22 homes are expected to be inaugurated at the beginning of next year. Two other projects of 42 and 20 homes respectively, which began to be built this year, are in full progress.

For its part, the diocese of Quilmes, which is historically committed to supporting habitat improvement projects and responding to the high housing deficit in the Buenos Aires suburbs, has been accompanying the project of 22 homes in San Francisco Solano, of which 7 were already delivered in September.

In Bragado, diocese of 9 de Julio, province of Buenos Aires, a project of 50 homes began that repeats the experience of implementing the dry construction system, through which new homes had already been delivered to 25 families. Finally, in the diocese of Esquel, province of Chubut, the start of work on a project of 20 homes was completed earlier this month in the town of Tecka, head of the Department of Languiñeo.

In this way, with the work of those who will be owners and the support of the Cáritas communities, many families can fulfill the enormous dream of accessing their own home.

Collaboration of Caritas Argentina