One of the great problems we face here in the southwest of the Dominican Republic is seeing the number of families that do not have decent housing. Many families live in houses made of tin, sticks or "emptying", a very rudimentary type of cement filling.
These families suffer not only the discomfort that entails living in this type of housing, but —especially during the hurricane season— they live in fear that their weak and fragile houses will be lost, and with them their few belongings.
In La Sagrada Familia Parish we carry out a program of home improvement and construction of new houses for the most vulnerable families. Over the past year and a half, thanks to the generosity of St. Lucy and St. Sebastian parishioners in Racine, WI, as well as the Cathedral of Milwaukee, we have had the joy of building eight brand new homes.
The selection of who benefits from this program is never easy, and that is why we carefully evaluate the situation and the history of each family. We always give priority to families who are dealing with someone with a disability, or single-parent families with several sons and daughters, or other similar situations of extreme vulnerability. Personally, I can say that, although the selection process is difficult, it is also a blessing to know the history and the reality of the people. Having a good home only solves one of their many needs, but certainly living with dignity is a fundamental human right.
We pray that in 2022 we may connect with more generous people who will contribute to make a reality the dream of many families here in the Dominican Republic: the aspiration to have a decent, proper home.
