Housing solutions for people with disabilities in rural Vietnam

As well as delivering safe and accessible housing for people in need, this work has led to the development of technical guidelines for housing design, which was shared during a workshop with the National Committee for Disabled people, the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs, on November 24 in Hanoi.

JTI Vietnam staff work together to build safe and accessible houses for families in Hoa Binh and Tien Giang.

For people with disabilities, living in rural areas can be challenging. Existing housing is rarely accessible, and the resources and capabilities to adapt places of residence are lacking. That’s why since June 2020, Habitat for Humanity Vietnam and Green Viet, with the support of JTI Vietnam, have worked to design and implement technical guidelines for accessible housing to help people with disabilities living in rural areas, providing them with convenient and safe living spaces.

With the support of 90 volunteers, accessible homes have already been delivered for five households in need in Hoa Binh and Tien Giang, following the guidelines developed through this project.

JTI Vietnam is also supporting the project financially.

The quick and successful delivery of these accessible homes highlights the value of the technical guidelines resulting from the design team's dedication. The guidelines will continue to be updated and improved, with design standards that will facilitate efficient and high-quality construction.

To raise awareness of these technical guidelines and their effectiveness, JTI Vietnam has coordinated with partners to present at the National Conference on Promoting Accessible Housing and Livelihood Support Models for People with Disabilities on November 24. The conference was organized by the National Committee for Disabled people (NCD) and attended by the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs. 

JTI Vietnam and partners at the National Conference organized by NCD.

The technical guidelines have also been shared with local government, construction services, and disability organizations throughout Vietnam to help guide the future development of accessible and affordable housing countrywide.

“Present in the country for over 20 years, JTI Vietnam is committed to sustainable development, which is reflected in both our business strategy and our community investment activities. This project is an example of how JTI Vietnam seeks to support local communities. We hope the technical guidelines developed through this project will increase access to safer and more accessible housing for those in need and lead to better lives.” Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh Bao - Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications, JTI Vietnam.