By Mariana Beltran | Project Leader
When María invited us into her home in Elotepec, Veracruz, she apologized for the floor. What once was uneven dirt had become dusty mud during the rainy season and a constant source of illness for her children. Like many families in rural and peri-urban Mexico, María worked hard every day, yet something as basic as a safe floor remained out of reach.
That is where this project began.
Between 2024 and early 2025, Habitat for Humanity México improved housing conditions for vulnerable families in Veracruz and Baja California by replacing dirt floors with safe, durable concrete floors—transforming homes and lives.
In Elotepec, Veracruz, 21 families completed new floors between October and December 2024 through a self-construction model. Families actively participated in the process, supported with materials, technical assistance, and labor. Each home received an average 40 m² concrete floor, incorporating more sustainable materials such as Resin8. Despite labor shortages that extended the timeline, the project significantly improved hygiene, health, and dignity for participating households.
In Baja California, the project reached a larger scale. During Phase 1 (March–September 2024), 140 floors were built in vulnerable neighborhoods in Tijuana, in coordination with local authorities and with the support of nine university volunteers who assisted in household assessments and community engagement.
Building on this success, Phase 2 (December 2024–April 2025) expanded the project to Tijuana and Ensenada, completing an additional 170 floors. This phase focused on capacity building, transferring Habitat’s technical and social expertise to government institutions to ensure quality, sustainability, and long-term scalability.
Overall, the project demonstrates how a simple intervention—a concrete floor—can reduce health risks, strengthen dignity, and lay the foundation for safer and healthier homes. Thanks to our donors’ support, hundreds of families are now living on solid ground, with renewed hope for the future.
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