Warm Homes 167

(Baonghean)This Lunar New Year of the Snake, hundreds of poor households in Quy Chau district will celebrate the traditional Tet holiday in their new, sturdy homes, filled with the warmth of family, relatives, and fellow villagers. These houses were built according to Decision 167/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.

With the motto "State support, community assistance" and the "joint efforts" of poor households, over the three years (2008-2012), implementing Decision 167/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, Quy Chau district built and handed over 2,355 houses to poor households facing housing difficulties, achieving 100% of the provincial target. In Chau Hanh commune, 297 households/18 villages were eligible for housing support. Mr. Le Quang Huong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, said: In the two years (2010-2011), the commune implemented the construction and handover of 113 houses to poor households. In 2012, the commune continued to implement the construction of 84 houses and handed them over to poor households eligible for support. Accordingly, each family received 16.4 million VND in support, of which 8 million VND was borrowed from the District Social Policy Bank over 10 years. To build a decent house with the above support money, the local government mobilized relatives and neighbors to contribute building materials and labor.

Visiting the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan in Hanh Tien village (Chau Hanh commune), we noticed the joy on her face. Previously, Ms. Lan lived in a dilapidated, makeshift house perched precariously on a high hillside. In 2012, thanks to government financial support under Decision 167, along with the help and support of relatives and neighbors, Ms. Lan was able to build a sturdy house. Ms. Lan happily shared: "My husband passed away early, leaving me to raise three children alone, so I didn't have money to repair the house. Thanks to the Party and the State, my family has been able to build a solid house. This year, I will be able to celebrate Tet in my new, warm home."





The house of Mr. Vi Van Mau in Chao village, Chau Binh commune, and the house of Ms. Lu Thi Nguyet were built according to Decision 167. Photo: Hoai An - Tran Ngoc Lan.

In Chau Hoi commune, Ms. Lu Thi Nguyet (a single mother) from Hoi I village couldn't hold back her tears when she received her new, spacious and warm house. Ms. Nguyet recounted that in 1998, after her husband passed away, she struggled to raise two children on her own, working daily to earn a living. Life was difficult, and hunger and poverty constantly plagued them. For decades, she and her children had to live in a dilapidated house. In 2012, upon hearing that her family had been selected by the village for housing assistance, she was overwhelmed with joy. At the housewarming ceremony, she said emotionally, "From now on, I have a new, sturdy house to live in, and I won't have to worry about rain or wind... I will remember this kindness forever."

The 167 houses that communes and towns in Quy Chau district have painstakingly built for poor families facing housing difficulties are new homes filled with compassion, serving as a strong source of encouragement and motivation for these impoverished households to overcome life's challenges.

Ngo Hoai An (Khe Ban - Chau Hanh - Quy Chau)