Boston Academics Hit the Road to Help Fight Poverty Housing in Romania

BEIUS, HFH Romania National Office (16^th of July) – Professor Betty Blythe and a group of her Boston College graduate students are joining Habitat for Humanity’s fight against poverty housing in Romania.

“There is a significant poverty housing issue in Romania, and we’re delighted that our friends from Boston College are joining us once again in our efforts to combat this problem,” says Adrian Ciorna, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Romania.

Nearly 30% of Romania’s 22 million people live in poverty. Two-thirds of those people do not have heating or running water. 4,000 newborn babies were abandoned in Romanian maternity hospitals immediately after delivery. The mothers abandoning their children are living in extreme poverty. (UNICEF)

The Boston College Graduate School of Social Work group will wield hammers and help build a home for a family in Beius, Romania, from July 25-31. Professor Blythe’s class “Human Services in Romania” includes building with Habitat – among numerous other Romanian charity causes – in the curriculum.

“The students and I have been studying housing, child welfare, and other social issues in preparation for our time in Romania. We are looking forward to travelling across the country and enriching our understanding of the issues,” says Professor Blythe. “We are honoured to be invited back to Beius, Romania and to be a small part of the effort to provide adequate housing for Romanian families.”

Habitat for Humanity in Romania has built 150 homes with families in need since being established in 1996. Habitat is active in Beius, Cluj, Pitesti, Radauti, Comanesti, Craiova and Cumpana.

Habitat is recruiting volunteers to build in Romania. As part of Habitat for Humanity’s “sweat equity” method, homeowner families are required to help build their own home, alongside volunteers. For information on how to join a Global Village trip, or to donate to help a family in need of decent shelter in Romania, please visit: www.habitat.org.