Seventy-five percent of the population lives on less than US$2 a day. Because of the widespread poverty, four out of five families live in substandard homes, with little hope of ever being able to afford a decent house. A typical village hut is built of mud and daub with a dirt floor and thatched roof. The conditions put families at high risk of disease.
 

Habitat for Humanity Malawi

Habitat Malawi houses are made of kiln-fired clay bricks, glass windows, air vents for good ventilation and iron sheet roofs. Each house has a foundation made from large stones, brick or cement. By providing improved housing to families, Habitat Malawi has enhanced the lives of people and reduced the occurrence of malaria, respiratory illnesses and intestinal parasites.
 

Habitat for Humanity Malawi launched the Building in Stages program. A project starts with a one-room house that costs less than half of a full-size Habitat house. The house can be fully paid off in about 3 to 5 years. After the first stage is paid off, families can add another room, until they have a complete house. This incremental building keeps payments and repayment periods down, and incents pay-off in order to move to the next stage of building.