Habitat for Humanity starts SMS campaign to tackle dire living conditions in Romania

Charity group Habitat for Humanity has launched a new campaign in Romania called Everything Begins at Home. The campaign aims to tackle the substandard living conditions resulting from poverty found in Romania.

The NGO quotes a range of telling figures from the EU’s statistics office Eurostat, including 5 million Romanians living in severe poverty, 1 million without heating and 41.2 percent without a bath or shower in their dwellings. According to Habitat for Humanity, 55.3 percent of Romanians live in overcrowded housing, while some 28.6 percent live in buildings in urgent need of repair.

Donations of EUR 2 can be made by sending an SMS to 8839, with the Cosmote, Orange and Vodafone networks offering the service. Money can also be given to the charity via credit card or Pay Pal on the Habitat for Humanity website. People also have the option of diverting a percentage of income tax paid in Romania to the campaign.

Habitat for Humanity provides housing to people in need around the world and was «founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.» The NGO argues that homes should provide more than the most basic shelter from the elements, rather that they should allow the occupants to live with dignity in decent housing.

Adapted from Romania-insider