Factors to Consider When Building a Home for Destitute Children
Every child needs a roof over their heads. No child should stay out in the cold for lack of shelter.
Although this is an ideal situation, the reality is that several children stay in the streets with no proper house– a basic need.
As much as the state tries its hand in securing homes for impoverished children, the scarcity of resources suppresses this objective.
The non-profit organizations pick up the mantle to ensure the children have a place called home.
The charity organizations can’t wake up one morning and decide to build a home for the destitute children.
They have to consider several factors which include:
- Availability of funds
Building a home is a costly project. Children’s homes, for that matter, are expensive.
Since it’s the charity organization doing it, it means they have to liaise with donors, corporate organizations, and interested parties to mobilize funds.
Have a look at a few ways to mobilize funds faster
- Use targeted marketing strategies
- Do cold pitching to potential donors
- Accept donations in-kind- materials
- Partner with other organizations with similar objectives
- Have a website and include payment options
- Send project proposals to many individual and corporate donors
Start the project with funds at hand. Never work with pledges or promises. You’ll be disappointed.
- Sustainability of the project
Consider the sustainability of the project. Once you build the home, how else are they going to get funds for the house’s general operations?
Think of salaries and home maintenance costs, among other expenses. If you are lucky, you can get a donor to handle all that for you.
In most cases, that’s not the case. Some organizations may fail to sponsor the construction when there is no clear cut sustainability program.
Who wants to engage in a program that is dead on arrival? As part of your proposal, have a clear cut sustainability plan to increase your chances of funding.
- Accessibility to essential facilities
The children’s home is not all about the building. It’s called home because of the availability of essential services.
Children need clean and safe water all the time. As you build this home, confirm the type of water supplied in the area. Is it hard water or soft water?
Either of them, there is no harm. In case the area has hard water, then the catch is finding the right water softener to prevent the clogging of pipes, among other benefits of soft water.
What is the proximity of the location to the sewer line? All these contribute to the overall construction budget.
Otherwise, you may end up with a home with deplorable conditions.
A Source of energy is also an idea to consider. Home appliances need electricity or a source of energy to function.
Have this in mind on accessibility and cost of installation if you opt for non-renewable sources of power.
4. Government regulations
Most countries have laws when it comes to projects dealing with children. In extreme cases, all funds need to pass through a financial vetting process for authenticity.
Certifications also come in handy to achieve the same. The documentation process occurs in two ways; as a charity organization, you must clear with the state council.
Additionally, you also need to have a clean bill of health with the construction authorities for all the certifications.
Avoid collision with the state, especially when dealing with donor funds. No one wants to be entangled with the country’s law enforcers due to failure to comply with its rules and regulations.
It’s an embarrassing scenario for a charity organization.
5. The geographical location of the home
A home needs to provide comfort and ambiance to the occupants. Most of these children are found on the streets.
It would be best if you gave them a reason to leave the streets; otherwise, you might build a home for them only for them to go back to their known home.
Humanitarian organizations attest to the fact that psychology of the people you want to change needs to be factored in when making decisions.
Do due diligence and get the facts about whether a home is the most appropriate facility they may need in order of priority.
6.The trust of the target individual
The project is a home for the destitute children. As you decide to construct a home for them, have you had a good rapport with them?
Do they have a social, if not emotional, connection with you? The two come in handy to gain trust such that when you decide to make a home, they look at you as a parent and not a stranger.
How do you gain confidence?
- Provide food at their location
- Engage them in physical and fun activities
- Donate clothes among other essentials
- Engage them in intimate talks to understand their challenge
As a humanitarian professional, you might think that it’s the home they need from the look of things.
Although on the outward look, that seems to be the most important, listen to them and understand the needs before you decide to build a house for them.
If not, you might have a magnificent home for them but refuse to stay in it.