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Six months ago, The Salvation Army responded to the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti. Today, the Army continues to work side by side with the recovering communities, moving from the provision of immediate needs—including temporary shelter, food, water and medical aid—to providing for long-term needs that will help survivors restore some normalcy in their lives.
As of July 13, the Army completed construction of 600 long-term intermediary housing shelters in Jacmel to help relocate those displaced by the earthquake back to their home communities.
The Transitional Shelter Program has empowered Haitians during the reconstruction process. In a nation where over two-thirds of the labor force in unemployed, more than 400 Haitians have been hired as carpenters and construction crew-members to assist in rebuilding and take an active role in re-establishing their communities.
On average, the shelters house five people and last several years. With Haiti now in hurricane season, the shelter’s design will also enable them to withstand strong winds as well as drain water, helping to reduce the spread of water-borne illnesses.
Now that hundreds of shelters have gone up in Jacmel, the Army will work with Haitian government officials to plan the development of another 1,000 to 1,500 homes in the northern coastal town of Petit-Goave, which was severely damaged by a strong aftershock in January.
The Salvation Army is committed to helping Haiti heal and emerge from this disaster stronger than before. As Lt. Colonel Dan Starrett of SAWSO said, “These homes are the first steps of many in that direction.”
To support the ongoing work in Haiti, visit salvationarmyusa.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or text message “HAITI” to 52000 (and confirm with “Yes.”)
From The Salvation Army’s national blog, written by Laura
