Meet the Mendoza Family
A hardworking family from Los Planes, Santa María, the Mendozas embody the spirit of perseverance and community resilience
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A family filled with strength and perseverance
In the rural community of Los Planes, Santa Maria, José Esteban and his wife, Glenda Suyapa, have spent 18 years building a life for their four children—Melissa, Nohelia Janet, Esteban Saúl, and David Alexander.
José works long hours earning just 200 lempiras a day ($8), but the income is irregular. During the coffee harvest, he picks beans for extra wages, yet there are weeks when heavy rains leave him without work. Meanwhile, Melissa, the oldest daughter, helps support the family by working in a home during the week while pursuing her education on weekends.
The family’s house, built by José 14 years ago from sticks and mud, has two small rooms and a dirt floor. When it rains, water seeps through the walls and roof, turning the floor to mud. Until last year, they had no running water. Electricity comes only from a small solar panel that works in summer; in winter, they rely on kerosene lamps.
Despite these hardships, José and Glenda dream of a future where their children can live safely, study, and thrive. A new, secure home would mean more than a roof over their heads—it would bring peace, dignity, and a foundation for a better future.
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Every housing project costs between $25,000 and $28,000 to create home that is adequate.
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Be the Foundation for Change
At Solcomun, we go beyond concrete floors and build spacious, dignifying homes made of quality cynder blocks.
Our adequate housing solutions include features like concrete floors, providing a foundation for healthier living conditions, reducing disease transmission, improving sanitation, and promoting physical and mental well-being.
Help families in Honduras build safe, secure homes.
Our Selection Process
Baseline Assessment:
We begin by conducting a comprehensive baseline assessment to collect housing infrastructure data from potential candidates. This data provides a clear picture of the living conditions and immediate needs of the families in the community.
Narrowing Down Candidates:
From the initial pool of candidates identified through the baseline assessment, we narrow down the list by visiting the families in their homes. During these visits, we conduct additional interviews to gain deeper insights into their specific circumstances, needs, and challenges.
Community Dialogue:
To ensure fairness and transparency, we engage in dialogues with other community members. This step involves vetting the potential beneficiaries by discussing their situations with neighbors, local leaders, and other stakeholders. These conversations help verify the information gathered and provide a community perspective on each family's need for improved housing.
Hard Facts.
Honduras is catalogued as the second poorest country in the Latin American Region.
In 2018, the World Bank published that 60.1 % of the rural population lived below the official rural poverty line (around 2.5 million poor).
Solcomún was founded by a team of both Honduran and US professionals with experience in international development, community development as well as business and tech industries to address the issues in Honduras.
48.3 % of people live in poverty
In both the urban and rural contexts 48.3% of people live below the national poverty line. However, poverty in rural settings is much more extensive leading up to 60.1%.
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Living on $1.20/day
Los Planes is a rural community where most families depend on agriculture, particularly coffee. The poorest families are day laborers with seasonal work and an average income of just $1.20 a day.
55.7% of people are unemployed
Only 44.30% of the economically working-age population is employed, leading to an open unemployment rate of 55.70%. 60% of working man are day laborers who do not own their own land