SHELTER HOME PROJECT FOR HOMELESS CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

IN PAKISTAN

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT:

• Aims to address the dire living conditions faced by the Christian minority in Pakistan, who largely belong to the middle and lower-middle classes and live in abject poverty.
• The project seeks to construct small houses,  for deserving Christian families in need.
• The small houses, encompassing an area of 3 marlas or 700 square feet, will feature two bedrooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom, and will be built according to government standards for constructing small societies.
• Local communities will generously provide the land required for construction, and the project will deliver these houses in the form of small towns, consisting of 10 to 100 homes, across various regions in Pakistan.
• Basic amenities and facilities will be provided within these small societies to ensure a decent standard of living for the Christian families.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT:

• Christianity, the third largest religion in Pakistan, constitutes around 1.27% of the country’s total population, estimated at approximately 3.6 million individuals as per the 2017 Census.
• These individuals primarily work as temporary servants, undertaking tasks such as sanitation and house cleaning in these cities. The temporary shelters they reside in lack basic facilities such as electricity, gas, water supply, sanitation, and roads.
• These homeless Christian communities lack permanent residence in the form of towns or societies, which is where the proposed project comes in.
• The initiative seeks to provide permanent housing to these communities by constructing towns and societies in consultation with them in areas near the major cities.
• This project aims to improve the living standards of these marginalized Christian communities by providing them with safe and secure permanent residences in the form of towns and societies.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

• To construct 1000 small houses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab for deserving Christian families in need, providing them with permanent, safe, and secure residences.
• To improve the living standards of marginalized Christian communities in Pakistan by providing them with basic amenities and facilities within small societies/ flats, such as access to electricity, gas, water supply, sanitation, and roads, and creating a sense of community through the construction of towns and societies.

POTENTIAL RESULTS OF THE INITIATIVE:

• IMPROVED HOUSING: The construction of 1000 small houses will provide deserving Christian families with permanent and safe homes, addressing their dire living conditions

• ENHANCED LIVING STANDARDS: By providing basic amenities and facilities within small societies, such as access to electricity, gas, water supply, sanitation, and roads, the project aims to improve the living standards of marginalized Christian communities in Pakistan.
• STRENGTHENED COMMUNITIES: Through the creation of small towns and societies, the project seeks to foster a sense of community among marginalized Christian families, creating a supportive environment and promoting social cohesion.

• SUSTAINABLE IMPACT: The project’s focus on constructing small societies and towns in consultation with local communities and using government standards for construction ensures that the initiative will have a sustainable impact, benefiting Christian families in need for years to come.

• IMPROVED COORDINATION AND EXECUTION: The management and execution of the project by the Saint Helpers Foundation, will ensure effective coordination and execution of the initiative.

IMPLEMENTATION METHODOLOGY:

• The Project Steering Committee will take responsibility for approving all design, development, and distribution plans for these towns and societies, ensuring that each community is thoughtfully and effectively built to meet the specific needs of the Christian families who will call them home. With this unparalleled expertise and commitment to excellence, the committee will be instrumental in bringing this inspiring vision to life.
• A cohort of proficient technical professionals comprising engineers, designers, town planners, and construction experts will proficiently scout the ideal locations for the towns and societies and artfully craft blueprints for their construction. These adept individuals will carry out the project under the discerning guidance and astute supervision of the esteemed project steering committee.

SELECTION OF THE TARGET BENEFICIARIES:

• The houses will be provided to the selected target beneficiaries who will be identified and selected through a pre-defined criterion. The basic criteria will be as follow:

1. Should be a citizen of Pakistan
2. Should be Christian
3. Should have a family
4. Should be homeless
5. Should not be able to construct house and deserving poor
6. Final selected beneficiary should be recommended by the selection committee Comprised of Saint Helpers Foundation management, representatives of Christian

PROJECT END LINE EVALUATION:

• An external evaluation study will be conducted by an impartial third-party to assess the impact and effectiveness of the project upon completion. The third-party evaluator will be engaged to ensure objectivity and impartiality in the evaluation process. The evaluation report will serve as a valuable resource for future replication of the project in other communities and areas.