“Having my own house changed my whole life. It gave me responsibilities. I think that you need to fight for what you want, because that is the way to fulfill things”.

Comments such as this are heard commonly among the families that participated in Social Production of Habitat projects. Manuel Rodríguez, from El Roble in Alajuela, dreamed about having his house for many years and did it come true thanks to this system.

What is it about?

It’s a way of producing (housing, neighborhoods, infrastructure, communal organization), used by the inhabitants to generate habitable spaces, adapted to their conditions, with the participation of the families, groups or the community as a whole.

Social Production of Habitat (SPH), contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of low income sectors in the country

This production way can be given both in the rural and urban areas. It involves several level of participation from the families, in the processes of planning, construction, distribution and the use of required resources for the habitat development.

SPH, is stand in the union of people among the communities, that seek for their family’s wellbeing. This implies training, participation, responsibility and solidarity from the people involved. It also contributes to the preservation of the environment, a better communication among families, a better equity among men and women, and a more organized and supportive neighborhood. This methodology promotes the active citizen’s participation in the political power. It looks for the achievement of society that has a better quality of life and starts innovating processes with a deep social contents and an enormous transforming impact.

The SPH projects are a feasible option for the low and middle income population in Costa Rica.

Shared Benefits

PSH benefits both families and the State, because it facilitates the access to housing and makes possible for the communities to be able to reach the government subsidy. It also brings employ opportunities fro the people inside the project and promotes their technical and organizational training, to perform as workers in other projects in the future.