Secure Housing

From Vulnerable to Safer Homes

Many youth-headed and vulnerable households enter the program living in unsafe, overcrowded, or temporary homes that offer little protection from rain, cold, or intrusion. Zoe Rwanda Terimbere begins by working with each family and their group to assess current living conditions and identify those in the most critical situations, such as collapsing roofs, open walls, or children sleeping in unsafe spaces. Together, they develop simple, step-by-step housing improvement plans that prioritize safety, weather protection, and privacy, with particular attention to their needs. This approach ensures that the most vulnerable households are supported first, while every family has a clear pathway to better housing over time.

Enabling Families to Build and Repair Their Homes

Rather than constructing houses for participants and creating new dependency, Zoe focuses on enabling families to build and repair their own homes. As participants grow their small businesses and savings, they are coached to invest part of their income in better housing. For households whose homes are dangerously inadequate or structurally unsound, the program provides targeted construction materials so that roofs can be replaced, walls reinforced, or in extreme cases, a permanent house can be constructed in collaboration between ZOE, local government leaders, group members, and community participation.