Building Homes

Home is everything. In following our Gospel mission, CRS is delivering safe and dignified housing to millions of people uprooted by crisis.

Watch Video Read Annet’s Story

I can imagine being happy in this house. God is helpful to me. I don’t feel alone.”

—Annet Konga, South Sudanese refugee living in Uganda
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The Impact

Each year, CRS supports more than 200 million people in more than 100 countries. Now it is time to take our work to scale. Through its Vision 2030 agency strategy, CRS has identified priority outcomes that best align to our mission and expertise. One of those priorities is building homes.

2.7 Million
People Placed in Safe, Dignified Homes
$1.5 Billion
Public and Private Funding Mobilized for Shelter and Settlement Response
8.5 Million
Additional People Benefitting from This Investment
On 28 September 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Sulawesi in Indonesia, with an epicenter less than 50 miles from Palu, the provincial capital. An underwater landslide triggered a localized tsunami estimated between 13-23 feet. The tsunami hit communities in Palu, Donggala and Mamuju. In addition, the earthquake caused soil liquefaction in four different areas in and around Palu, swallowing entire neighborhoods. The government reported a death toll of 4,340 and 70,000 houses damaged or destroyed.

The Opportunity

Over the next 10 years, CRS will go beyond providing shelter and immediate relief to strengthening community infrastructure and building environments where people can thrive.

Through Go FAR, CRS will build homes for 1.5 million people affected by crisis so they can live with dignity and begin to restore their torn lives.

Why It Matters: Building Homes

A home is the base for stability, identity and love. The loss of home—which gravely impacts safety, health, education, prosperity, emotional well-being and dignity—can fracture a family’s identity and the roots of community.

CRS is ready to put faith into action and expand shelter programming based on our core values—focused not just on building roofs and walls, but homes and communities.

We are proud to share the stories of the people we serve as we build homes and futures together.

Annet Konga and her family collect mud that is used to coat the outside of their new CRS shelter.
Annet Konga(pictured), 16 is now the head-of-household for her three siblings - Emmanuel Longa, 13, Irene Kobang, 8 AND (Juru) Gladys, 6. Both of her parents died of HIV and TB in 2012, long before she and her family were forced to flee in 2016 from the violence of civil war in her native South Sudan. Building Homes and Futures: Annet’s Story
Hamidullah and Jimmy: Stories from the Field

Key Projects

Building Homes for Refugees in Uganda

Uganda is the site of one of the largest refugee crises in the world. Thousands of people from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have arrived seeking refuge from conflict, violence, unrest and a deadly Ebola outbreak. In collaboration with community members, local partners and the Ugandan government, CRS is providing people with comprehensive support. This includes building homes, preventing the spread of COVID-19, providing access to water and sanitation, strengthening livelihoods and promoting community engagement.

Building Homes for Survivors of Emergencies in Asia

Vulnerable communities in Asia have recently faced some of the world’s most catastrophic emergencies. Many people are uprooted and need safe refuge. Together with our partners, CRS will help families in Asia build safe, dignified homes and infrastructures so that they can survive and recover. We will also assist families with livelihoods support, and provide local communities and governments with training that ensures they are prepared to continue this work effectively and sustainably during future emergencies.