In December 2021, Typhoon Odette/Ray battered the Philippines blowing off roofs, uprooting trees, cutting off power and leaving hundreds of thousands to seek shelter. The human cost was enormous, many became homeless and over 400 people lost their lives.

In response to the natural disaster, the Vincentian Family (VF) in the Philippines  promptly launched a fundraising appeal to provide emergency relief and to build better houses for families affected by the typhoon. In solidarity with the VF, the Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA)[1] relayed their appeal to a global audience in order to provide emergency shelter kits to 100 families in Malitbog and Limasawa Island (Southern Leyte) and in Bolusao (Eastern Samar).

Thanks to donors from many countries, the FHA raised nearly 117,000 USD which has allowed us to provide 100 emergency shelter kits and soon to build 11 permanent typhoon resistant houses for families in need.

Each emergency kit consisted of essential constitutes to build an emergency shelter such as roof nails or corrugated iron sheets, allowing many people in need to secure accommodation. We also aim to build eleven houses, more resilient to an ever-changing climate, following international standards for size, quality and clean water and sanitation.

With this appeal, the FHA wanted to respond to Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter ‘Laudato Si’ : ‘We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family’. The generosity of many Vincentians in the world has allowed the Vincentian Family in the Philippines to support many people whose houses had been destroyed.

The appeal closed on 31st March and, on behalf of the recipient families and the VF in the Philippines, we are very grateful to all for the donations. As St Vincent reminds us: ‘Extend your mercy towards others so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping’. As Vincentians, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines, helping them to rebuild their homes and their lives and looking forward to a brighter future.

Famvin Homeless Alliance

Footnote:

[1] The Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA) was set up in 2017 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian Charism and is managed by Depaul International. It is a Vincentian Family initiative supporting established and  emerging homelessness programs across the globe.  We understand homelessness as those living on the street, refugees and those displaced from their home, and slum dwellers in inadequate housing. Our vision is a world where everyone has a place to call home and a stake in their community.