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In 2003, when a dream became a reality to construct homes in Haiti for needy families, we had no idea how important nor how big this ministry would become. At the time we began this ministry we had no true knowledge of how many people needed a home in the Grand Goave area. Yes, as we would walk through town visiting people, we saw the poor conditions but in those days they were not as many nor were they as bad. Most families rented a home and some owned small, modest homes on land they or their family owned.
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Then came the earthquake…
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The January 12, 2010 earthquake changed everything. The community was devastated and most of the landlords who rent homes lost those properties; thousands of families were homeless, and neither the family nor the landlords had the financial resources to rebuild. The need became immense in a matter of seconds.
Prior to the earthquake there were no tent dwellings, although some lived in really substandard homes, made with wood or sticks with a form of cement and mud mixture. This all changed in one half a minute… Nearly all the cement block-style homes were destroyed or severely damaged. The wood and mud type structures withstood the tremors, although people were afraid to be inside any dwelling due to the aftershocks. The stick and mud dwellings that did not collapse were the ones that were the worst homes already…homes where mosquitoes live and lay their eggs on the walls, causing those families to be most susceptible to malaria and dengue fever.
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Homes for “needy families”
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Most of the homes Lifeline has constructed have been funded by sponsors through the Lovelink Child Sponsorship Program for those children in our schools and nutrition programs. Americans and Canadians have opened their hearts and pockets and homes have gone up in record numbers. Although an increasing number of donors are providing homes for not-sponsored “Needy Families.” Some donors have funded multiple homes. Some child sponsors fund homes for their sponsored child then later send money for a Needy Family.
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Waiting, praying, waiting…
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Each week Samuel Francois, one of our Haitian employees, learns of families living in tents or substandard dwellings and he takes photos and sends the information to us. Then the name of the family goes on our “Needy Family Waiting List”. Currently, there are 58 families waiting and praying for a Lifeline home. And the list grows weekly. We believe we’ve hardly scratched the surface of need.
Although the only criteria to qualify for a Lifeline home is that of need (the family doesn’t own the dwelling they are living in and/or the home they have is substandard by Haitian standards), some live in much worse conditions than others.
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“Homeless” to hope-filled
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Recently we were able to fund homes for some people that had gone through great tragedy. One mother, living in a tent with 3 children, went out to buy food. The 15 month old baby was sleeping in the tent and died when the tent caught fire and burned to the ground. At that same time, this mother’s father died suddenly. Thanks to the generosity of Croton Church of Christ who had a work team in Haiti at the time, this woman went from “Homeless and Helpless,” to having her hope restored when Lifeline constructed a home on the same site as where the tent had burned.
Another story that just happened: A large family was living in a deplorable situation. A work team from Northfield Christian Church and Indian Creek Christian Church pitched in and helped build this family a home 2 weeks ago and even provided money for beds.
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You provide more than a home…
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In addition to providing homes for those of greatest need, jobs have been provided for about 100 people, involved in the construction as well as the program management. Lifeline employs many people in Haiti (over 300). One thing that we think is unique in our Jobs Program is that most of the jobs involve serving others. Our Haitian staff, for the most part are in the “Service Industry” as they serve their fellow Haitians through home building, educating, pastoring, feeding, providing health care, and much more. Providing a venue for Haitians to serve, as Christ has commanded, makes their work meaningful and pleasing to God.
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The task is far from finished. The Grand-Goâve community alone has great need but Lifeline is also building in other communities where we have a presence through churches, and schools, and where the need is also great.
We at Lifeline want to thank each one of you who have participated in the “Homes for Haiti” ministry…whether by funding a home, raising funds, promoting the program, or being in Haiti to construct homes, YOU have made an impact! Your partnership is essential if we are to continue to take the “Homeless to Hopeful.”
Serving together,
Gretchen DeVoe, Lifeline Co-Founder
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Needs a Home:
The Maurisaint Family
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Since those first 6 homes were constructed in 2003, this ministry has grown beyond our imagination.
As of now, 683 homes are funded, most of which have been constructed since 2010.
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Needs a Home:
The Pierre Family
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Needs a Home:
The Milord Family
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Needs a Home:
The Mathieu Family
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Since 2010, the numbers of families living in tents, lean-tos, and homemade shelters is shocking.
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Needs a Home:
The Laurent Family
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Needs a Home:
The Laukendent Family
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Needs a Home:
The Kernizan Family
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The current contribution to fund a home in Haiti is $4,475 (U.S.) or $4,925 (Canadian).
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Needs a Home:
The Joseph Family
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