A month ago, Typhoon Odette/Ray wreaked havoc in the Philippines, killing over 400 people. The Vincentian Family in the Philippines swiftly organized to provide emergency relief to the over 5.4 million people affected by the typhoon. Many are now homeless this includes some of those previously housed under the 13 Houses Campaign.

The Vincentian Family in the Philippines now needs to start from the beginning and help people rebuild houses that have been destroyed. This is a difficult time but as St Vincent taught us, the grace of perseverance is the greatest gift of all.

The Vincentian Family Executive Committee (VFEC) has asked the Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA) to launch an appeal to support Vincentian Family members on the ground in the Philippines to provide immediate relief to those made homeless and also to build permanent housing that is more resilient to future disasters. We hope to provide emergency shelter kits for upwards of 100 families affected in Malitbog and Limasawa Island (Southern Leyte) and Bolusao (Eastern Samar). Depending on funding available we also aim to build multiple family houses in the same areas, more equipped to deal with an ever-changing climate and adhering to the SPHERE international development standards for quality, size, clean water and sanitation.

Each shelter kit costs $300 per family and each house $7500. Please donate whatever you can to show solidarity with our Vincentian Family in this time of desperate need.

Tomaž Mavrič CM, President of the Vincentian Family Executive Committee said: "At this time, we are living through a global pandemic that seeks to suffocate all humanity and in particular the poor. I realize there are many needs but I ask you to stand in solidarity with the people of the Philippines who as well as coping with Covid are at the same time the innocent victims of natural disaster. As Vincentian Family, we are called to commit our resources and our networks and show solidarity by helping our sisters and brothers in the Philippines to rebuild their homes and their lives."