Serving Hands International

Las Casitas

The "Little Houses" Project

Las Casitas (Spanish for "Little Houses") provides two-room, cement floor, wooden homes for Tijuana poor who otherwise might sleep on dirt floors in huts made of discarded materials.

Serving Hands International has built about 250 basic houses for Tijuana's needy. One hundred fifteen were constructed in 2003. Our 2004 goal is to build 115 more.

or Las Casitas, we have adopted a project approach that is cost-effective yet provides maximum economic benefit to the community. SHI relies on local Tijuana laborers and purchases building materials within the community. A committee consisting of Serving Hands International and Tijuana community representatives screens each request. Any family found to be needy must have access to a small portion of land on which to build. Also, recipients are expected to help build their new "little house." Construction time averages one week!

The following budget is based on the construction of 115 houses during 2004.

Donors may be assured that 100% of their donation, along with a dollar for dollar match (up to a total of $1.5 million annually) is used solely for charitable projects. The organization's administration and overhead are covered by a separate Foundation.

Las Casitas Project: 2004

Item Description

Cost per Item

Number of Units Projected

Total Cost

Projected Budget for a standard two-room house *

$2,725

64

$174,400

Projected Budget for a reduced size house

$2,000

34

$68,000

Projected Budget for one-room addition **

$1,063

17

$18,071

Total Budget for Houses

115

$260,471

Serving Hands Match

$130,236

Current Need

$130,235

*Cost includes, labor and materials for a 32' x 16'7" concrete slab,
two-room house with detached latrine.
** We build an additional room for the children of those families with a one-room house.

You Can Help
For what some spend on a summer vacation, you can provide a basic house for a needy family. By partnering with Serving Hands International, your donation doubles, with Serving Hands International matching your contribution dollar for dollar. As a donor, you will receive a photo of each family you assist standing next to their new home.

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