ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH SUPPORTS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BUILD HOUSES

Panorama.am
18:50 04/09/06

Twenty-four families will receive accommodation in Gavar in the
framework of construction program "We will construct with faith"
under the name of Garegin B, Catholicos of All-Armenians. Another 12
houses will be ready in different regions of Armenia by the end of
2006. Habitat for Humanity, an international organization in Armenia,
conducts long-term credit program without interest rates since the
year 2000. In April of the running year, an agreement was reached
with the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) according to which the church
expressed readiness to support the program.

"A year ago, we received an invitation form Habitat to take part in
a housing program in Detroit, USA. We watched how enthusiastically
the works were conducted and saw the happiness of families which
received the houses. Then, we received an invitation to support a
similar program in Armenia," Garegin B said.

Each house costs $6400. The owners have to pay it back in 20 years
without interest rates. "We were not suggested a credit, in fact,
because we do not pay interest rates. Today, monthly apartment rent
is $80 and I pay only 9100 Armenian drams per month (about $23)
in the course of 20 years," a happy owner of a flat says.

Next year, Habitat will commission 100 houses or flats with the
support of AAC. By the year of 2011, the number of construction sites
is going to reach 1710.

According to Habitat statistics, 5% of Armenian families have no
residence and 40% live in temporary flats.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress