Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI) builds "Forever Cross-Cultural Relationships" through programs like Sister Church Partnerships and Homes for Haiti. Homes for Haiti provides sturdy concrete homes for families left homeless after Hurricane Tomas destroyed over 1,000 homes in Haiti. Each home costs $4,000-5,000 to build and includes a concrete foundation, doors, windows, porch, and Bible. Families apply and are reviewed for eligibility before a home is built for them by a trained Haitian work crew. People can donate or fundraise to build a home, or volunteer on a mission trip to help with construction.
5. The Destruction Didn’t Stop There Hurricane Tomas destroyed more than 1,000 homes and damaged over 5,000 48,000 people were evacuated, and nearly 24,500 were relocated to temporary shelters
7. Homes for Haiti Provides: 200 Square Feet of Living Space A sturdy concrete foundation 2 locking doors 2 windows for light and air flow A front porch A Haitian Bible Hope for the future
8. How the Program Works Families seeking one of the Homes for Haiti must fill out an application Applications are reviewed by a Haitian national group to determine eligibility Recipients must have a free and clear title to the land before the home is can be built Homes are built by a well-trained Haitian National Work Crew
19. Any Questions? Reciprocal Ministries International 5475 Lee Street, Suite 301 Lehigh Acres, Florida 33971 www.rminet.org 239.368.8390
Notes de l'éditeur
Reciprocal Ministries International (or RMI for short) was founded in 1988 with the distinct mission of partnering churches and individuals in the US with churches and individuals in Haiti. We seek to have these relationships focus on one or all of the following components – discipleship, evangelism, social compassion, education, and community development. I want to focus on one word that is part of our purpose statement at RMI – enable. Our missionaries and staff both in the US and Haiti see their sole purpose as to ENABLE churches filled with people like you or I to engage in relationship with the people of Haiti.
Explain each program briefly.Today we will be exploring the Homes for Haiti Program. Homes for Haiti is a program founded by Reciprocal Ministries International to meet the needs of Haitian families who are sleeping in tent cities or housing multiple families in one very small home due to their severe poverty.
The Haitian government estimates that the January 2010 earthquake killed over 316,000 people and demolished much of the capitol city of Haiti. This photo depicts the devastation on one of the main streets in the historical district of Port-au-Prince. Over 895,000 survivors fled Port-au-Prince and sought shelter with family and friends in nearby communities. More than 2/3 of the Haitian labor force do not currently have jobs and the typical Haitian lives on less than $2 a day. Providing housing for additional people put a huge burden on communities already struggling to provide their own homes and safety for their own family.Enter Hurricane Tomas.
Hurricane Tomas was responsible for only 21 deaths, a very small number in comparison to the earthquake that took place several months earlier. However, Tomas’ devastation to property and crops is commonly overlooked. This destructive storm left 6,500 people homeless.Due to the severe damage in the Windward Islands and Haiti from the storm, at the 33rd annual RA IV Hurricane Committee Conference, the name Tomaswas retired following its usage, and will not be used again for an Atlantic tropical cyclone. The name Tobias was chosen as the replacement name for the 2016 season. This made Tomas the first T name to be retired in the Atlantic basin. Tomas was also one of only four Category 2 hurricanes to get its name retired, the others were Fifi, Diana, and Juan.Health workers also feared damage and floodingrelated to Tomascould exacerbate the ongoing cholera outbreak.
Over a year and a half later, 595,000 peoplestill remain homeless. Following all this devastation, hundreds of thousands of Haitians were forced to take up residence in makeshift camps soon labeled “tent cities”. Tent cities have popped up on any available piece of flat land, even in the town square across the street from the National Palace.In addition to the tent cities, many families have as many as 8-12 extra people living with them. In response to this seemingly hopeless housing crisis, Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI) has been focusing on providing culturally relevant, transitional housing through our Homes for Haiti Program.
Each house meets the International Hurricane and Earthquake Building Code and provides 200 square feet of living space, a sturdy concrete foundation, 2 locking doors, 2 windows for light and air flow, and a front porch. Each recipient is presented with a Haitian Bible and the keys to a home that provides dignity, stability, security, and sense of hope for the future.
Eachtranstional home costs $5495.
It is limited only by your imagination!You alone can’t change Haiti. Only God can. However, through RMI’s Homes for Haiti Program, individuals like you and I can help to provide stability and safety for the people of Haiti.
“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams”. Homes for Haiti seeks to meet both the need for shelter as well as a place for families to re-group and rebuild their lives.
