© Habitat for Humanity International
Sustainable and affordable housing: wienerberger supports social projects with Habitat for Humanity International. More than 5,000 people have benefited since 2012.
For many people, a daily shower and being able to heat the house in winter is something they can take for granted. But not everyone is able to enjoy such home comforts. This is where wienerberger comes in: together with Habitat for Humanity International, the company helps people in need in its local markets by improving their living conditions.
wienerberger is one of the most important global project partners for Habitat for Humanity International. “Eliminating housing poverty is an enormous challenge that requires determination and a great many helpers. wienerberger joined forces with Habitat in 2012. Thanks to the company’s support, thousands of people today are living in healthier and warmer houses,” says Rick Hathaway, Area Vice-President for Europe and the Middle East at Habitat for Humanity International.
wienerberger supports those in need by helping with the construction and renovation of their homes and community facilities – above all by providing building materials, infrastructure solutions and construction expertise. The social projects that have already been realized have given direct help to more than 5,000 people in eight countries: Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and the USA. In addition, wienerberger employees are directly involved in the construction of houses in the form of volunteering co-operations. At the same time, the company seeks to raise awareness among politicians and public authorities in the regions of the importance of social housing.
The partnership between wienerberger and Habitat for Humanity International contributes to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the area of social housing, these are in particular the goals “Sustainable Cities and Communities” (SDG 11) and “Climate Action” (SDG 13). The aim is that everyone should have access to safe, decent and affordable housing and to basic services by 2030.
© Habitat for Humanity International
Romania
Hope Build is a volunteering event run by Habitat for Humanity International during which residential houses are built within just five days. Some of these projects use bricks and pipe systems donated by wienerberger. In 2023 a team of volunteers that included wienerberger employees built two complete semi-detached houses for low-income families in Cumpăna, Romania.
Thanks to Hope Build, the Cozma family was able to move out of their rental apartment which had mold and no working heating. The parents Mariana and Răzvan themselves came from deprived families and had to work as children. Today, they own one of the houses built in Cumpăna and are able to offer their own three children better opportunities for the future.
“As one of the world’s biggest suppliers of building material and infrastructure solutions we bear a special responsibility in the area of Environmental Social Governance (ESG). It is immensely important to create housing for those who are underprivileged and to improve their living conditions. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity International enables us to play our part,” explains Heimo Scheuch, CEO of wienerberger.
In its social projects wienerberger adheres to the highest national and international standards of sustainability and has set itself ambitious social targets across the group. One of these is to use its products to build approximately 200 housing units per year for people in need between 2023 and 2026. The partnership with Habitat for Humanity International makes an important contribution to achieving this goal.
It is important to create housing for those who are underprivileged and to improve their living conditions. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity International enables us to play our part.”
Poland
In Poland Habitat for Humanity International uses its Repair and Construction Program to support low-income families with housing needs. Jolanta and her daughter Anna are among the beneficiaries. After the roof of their house in the north of the country was destroyed by fire, wienerberger donated the roof tiles and other necessary materials for the repair. Thanks to this support mother and daughter have a roof over their heads again.
© Habitat for Humanity International
wienerberger supports the construction and renovation of residential and other buildings. In 2022 alone, 92 housing units were built or renovated as wienerberger not only works with Habitat for Humanity International in the field of new housing construction. Thanks to their joint efforts children can concentrate better in warm classrooms or enjoy playing in a playground. Older people and those with disabilities have the chance to live a life of dignity in decent living conditions.
“From building houses to renovating schools and centers for those with disabilities: wienerberger supports people in need throughout Central and Eastern Europe, in the United Kingdom and the USA. We would like to thank wienerberger for the long-standing partnership.”
Victims of domestic violence can finally feel safe. And those in need receive support through projects such as community centers. “From building houses to renovating schools and centers for people with disabilities: wienerberger supports people in need throughout Central and Eastern Europe, in the United Kingdom and the USA. We would like to thank the company for its long-standing partnership and active participation in our regional advocacy work,” says Rick Hathaway from Habitat for Humanity International.
© Habitat for Humanity International
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the project Empty Spaces to Homes transformed three empty commercial properties into high-quality social houses using bricks, roof tiles and pavers from wienerberger. Four care leavers – young adults who have spent time in the care of a local authority or a foster family – will now find a safe and stable home in Woodward Road in London. And in another building, young asylum seekers have space to start building a better life for themselves.
© Robert Staudinger
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