(HONG KONG, February 6, 2023) Habitat Hong Kong continues to drive initiatives in Asia-Pacific to build more equitable housing markets and facilitate access to resilient shelter for low-income families. In November, Credit Suisse APAC Foundation approved a 3-year extension of their partnership with Habitat for Humanity, to further support low-income households in the Philippines with access to microfinance products that foster the adoption of green and disaster resilient housing materials.

 

Through this new grant partnership, Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter will build capacity of financial institutions in the Philippines to sustainably integrate client-centric and green shelter financing products into their long-term business plans, the first such initiative in the country. It seeks to address financial exclusion among underprivileged segments, which in the Philippines is an issue compounded by frequent natural disasters and the harsh impacts of climate change, particularly on housing conditions.

 

The funding provided by Credit Suisse APAC Foundation is expected to support about 10,000 low-income households who will benefit from awareness and education services on climate-friendly and green construction practices and use of digital technology. Simultaneously, 3,000 households are expected to receive green housing microfinance loans from the financial institution(s) partnering with TCIS and adopt green construction and disaster-resilient practices to improve their homes.

 

“We are deeply committed to improving financial inclusion in the Asia Pacific region. By partnering with Habitat for Humanity, we play a critical role in closing the housing backlog in the Philippines by providing vulnerable families with improved access to affordable and green housing finance solutions,” said Laetitia Lienart, Head of Corporate Citizenship and Foundations APAC at Credit Suisse and Executive Director of Credit Suisse APAC Foundation.

 

The project began with a feasibility study in the Philippines, which is currently determining the potential use cases of green housing, such as materials, technologies and building practices that may be desirable and feasible among low-income households, and their financing requirements for such use cases. The results of the study will also help identify the right stakeholders for prototype testing of microfinance services.

 

About the Credit Suisse APAC Foundation

The Credit Suisse APAC Foundation, launched in February 2020, is the strategic community investment vehicle for Credit Suisse’s global Corporate Citizenship and Foundations strategy in the APAC region.

 

The Credit Suisse APAC Foundation focuses on improving the employability, aspirations and financial education of disadvantaged young people and the financial inclusion of underprivileged populations across Asia Pacific (APAC) (excluding India). We do this by supporting organizations who operate in a sustainable way through multi-​year partnerships involving both financial support, capacity building and employee engagement.

Grant making covers the Asia Pacific region with the exception of India. Credit Suisse India entities comply with the 2% CSR regulatory spend as per the 2013 India Companies Act. All grant making in India is governed by the India Philanthropy Committee and the grant portfolio focuses on Future Skills, Financial Inclusion, Financial Education, Quality and Inclusive Education as well as Environment, Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Development.

 

About Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong

Driven by the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 in the U.S. as a grassroots effort. The housing organisation has since grown to become a leading global non-profit working in more than 70 countries. Habitat works locally in Hong Kong and across the Asia and Pacific region, to help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Financial assistance and volunteers from Hong Kong have contributed to Habitat supporting more than 46 million people globally. Through shelter, we empower.

 

About Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter

The Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a unit of Habitat for Humanity International, works with housing market actors to expand innovative and client-responsive services, products and financing so that households can improve their shelter more effectively and efficiently. The goal of the Terwilliger Center is to make housing markets work more effectively for people in need of decent, affordable shelter, thereby improving the quality of life for low-income households. To learn more, visit habitat.org/tcis.

 

關於香港仁人家園                                                                                           

在我們「世上人人得以安居」 的願景推動下,仁人家園於 1976 年於美國開始作為草根階層工作。發展至今,仁人家園作為國際住房組織現已於全球 70 多個國家和地區開展並領先全球非牟利組織。 仁人家園在香港和亞太地區開展工作,幫助當地家庭獲得力量、穩定和自力更生的能力,為自己創造更美好的生活。同時,香港的財政援助和志願者亦為仁人家園做出貢獻,為全球超過 4600 萬人提供支持。

For any media queries, please contact:

Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
Julie Ng
Officer, Marketing & Public Engagement
Email: julie.ng@habitat.org.hk
Tel: +852 9108 0778