Shelter for some is a place of refuge but according to the United Nations, for millions around the world, the shelter they know exists in life- or health threatening conditions, or in other conditions which do not uphold their human rights and their dignity. Amongst these millions, women stand out as especially vulnerable when it comes to issues of land tenure.
Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago (Habitat TT), in close partnership with the POS City Corporation (POSCC), has over the past year undertaken the project, “Accelerating the Essentials and Making Port of Spain a Resilient City 2030”, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and under this project now launches “SHElter”- A Land Empowerment Campaign for Women.
“This project is aimed at city resilience; “My city is getting ready!”
- Making Cities Resilient (MRC) Campaign
It includes harnessing data from the community members, toward a strong Action Plan that will allow for a more resilient capital city, with the involvement of state and non-state actors to accelerate the pathway: Cities KNOWing better, Cities PLANNing better, and Cities IMPLEMENTing better, to making Port of Spain a Resilient City 2030.
To build a resilient city we need to focus on its people.
This project provided for capacity building and empowerment of community members through training programmes such as Disaster Risk Reduction, and Healthy Housing Practices. Data for strong decision making came from the community members, through the Participatory Approach to Safe Shelter Awareness (PASSA). From this approach we observed that in the communities surrounding POS over 60% of heads of households were women and noted that having the security of tenure is directly proportional to the increased resilience of persons. This is owing to the fact that residents are more willing to invest in their properties by improving housing conditions should they own the land they live on.”
- Graciela Boodoo, Programme Coordinator - Habitat TT
Habitat TT’s “SHElter” campaign aims to help strengthen the resilience of women and guide them toward the tools, resources and information available in the process of property ownership and includes a petition to generate 4000 signatures in support of more private, public and civil sector facilities, educational opportunities, resources and programs to be made available for the empowerment of women to become landowners, utilizing the support of our Architects for Change Dr. Safeeya Mohammed, Kathryn Stollmeyer Wight, Philomena Alexis-Baptiste (Philo), Ken Corbie and Peter Harris. They have served the organization diligently over the years giving of their time, expertise and being ambassadors, promoting the programs and initiatives of Habitat TT.
“Habitat TT and Habitat for Humanity International, advocate on a daily basis for the basic human right to land and shelter access. Given our gender drive, moreso to advocate for the rights of our women globally and locally. This is because we do believe that if women are given this basic land right, it will transform our society by leaps and bounds. Women not only will create a greater productivity level, but will add to national development in profound ways; increased entrepreneurial activities, increased efforts to push their children to greater educational opportunities and will also lend to better health, because of their increased access to better living conditions. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in March 2022, and International Women’s Day, what a fitting time to add our voices in a stronger way via this women empowerment campaign.”
- Jennifer Massiah, National Director - Habitat TT
Submitted by:
Kevon Foderingham
& Dominique Roy
SHElter Campaign Communication Consultants