Better Homes

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Mission

The mission of the Better Homes Project is to improve the lives of the poorest members of local Rroma communities by providing them safe and reliable shelter in which their families can live in dignity and their children can grow in good health.

Together with the local authorities and members of the Rroma community, FAST aims to provide new homes for families living in critical poverty in deprived rural areas in the local villages of Tarlungeni, Zizin, Budila, and Sacele.

The need

Many Rroma in Romania live in functionally segregated settlements, on the outskirts of ethnically Romanian areas, in rundown or ramshackle homes that lack basic amenities such as plumbing or electricity, as well as insulation to keep them warm in the winter. The Better Homes Project addresses the need for safe housing in local communities, while employing members of the local Rroma community to build this housing.

How the Project Works

Utilizing a team of local Rroma construction workers, as well as FAST staff and visiting volunteers, we build simple, prefabricated homes in the community with pieces constructed in our local workshop. We use our knowledge of the local community, as well as input from local leaders, to select the families in greatest need. Families with many children in extreme poverty are at the top of our list.

Construction of each home takes approximately two months. In the first two years since the project's inception in 2007, we have built nine new homes, and have helped several other families obtain either the materials, labor, or financial support needed to build or add necessary improvements to their own homes. In 2008, 36 family members benefited from the Better Homes Project, including 26 children.

Current and Future Project Goals

The Better Homes team is currently at work finishing houses and additions that were begun before winter in 2008, and on construction of another workshop, located in the yard of a local school, which will allow the school to teach valuable construction skills to its students and put those skills to use making elements for homes in the community. This puts agency for the project into the hands of the locals themselves, with FAST acting in a supporting role.

Student's Initiative to Change the Face of Tarlungeni Written by Hannah Martin Two architecture students from the University of Sheffield in England, Huan Rimington and Hannah Martin, recently came to visit to discuss a potential project that ...  (more)

House Makeovers for two Families from Outlook Expeditions Written by Liz Greenhalgh On the afternoon of Thursday 22nd July, we had 10; 15 year old girls, 2 teachers and an Outlook Expeditions team leader arrive at Ziurel in need of a long hot show...  (more)

Equipped to Make a Difference Written by Liz Greenhalgh During the last week of June, we saw 12 members from Equip, a training and discipleship programme run by Queens Park Baptist Church in Glasgow, visit us for the 4t...  (more)

Two weeks at FAST For two weeks, Dean, Steve and I have been enjoying an amazing time as volunteers with FAST and in particular working with Better Homes. We came with all sorts of expectations, for me it was my third ...  (more)

Youth 4 U's Easter Trip Written by Liz Greenhalgh At the end of March, 12 leaders and young people from the youth group, Youth 4 U of Westy Christian Fellowship, Warrington joined FAST for a week to support our Be...  (more)