The Movement for the Eradication of Unhealthy Rural Housing (Mevir) turns 55 years old. During 2021, it allowed the construction of 900 housing solutions and benefited more than 5,000 people. By 2022, it plans to reach the record for community infrastructure works and finalize 40 housing plans. Vice President Beatriz Argimón highlighted the concept that governs Mevir, which implies community building.
This Thursday, May 5, in the antechamber of the Chamber of Senators of the Legislative Palace, the launch of the commemoration of the 55 years of Mevir was held. In addition to the Vice President of the Republic, Beatriz Argimón, the activity was attended by the Minister of Housing, Irene Moreira; the president of Mevir, Juan Pablo Delgado, and the president of the Uruguayan Post Office, Rafael Navarrine.
Since its creation in 1967, the organization has built more than 41,000 housing solutions including houses, production units, spare parts, sanitation and electrification works, and more than 32,000 new houses, through which it has benefited more than 145,000 Uruguayans.
Vice President Argimón said that citing this initiative implies referring to a dwelling and a home, because it implies affection, hope and the development of the family. “Speaking of Mevir means talking about public policies that really interpreted the social reality in its origin and today,” she emphasized.
For his part, Moreira stressed that mutual help is fundamental, because the institution not only delivers the keys to a home, but the program participant builds his own house. He added that for Mevir the family is fundamental and the female head of the family even more so. He pointed out that one of the goals is to continue moving forward on settlements.
Delgado reviewed the main actions achieved in 2021 and the challenges for 2022. In this regard, he said that during the last year nearly 900 housing solutions were built, in 30 executed work plans, which involved more than 5,000 people benefited. In addition, the deeds of 55% more homes were carried out than the average of recent years, which meant that 2,400 people became owners.
He also recalled that, in that year, more than 300 legal actions were carried out to recover empty homes that were re-adjudicated, and new programs were carried out to allow Mevir participants to build sheds or carry out building improvements. He added that a pilot plan for sustainable wood constructions has started, which allows to reduce construction times by 50% and costs by 40%.
Delgado also made reference to the concept of “building community”, for which agreements were established that allow the generation of infrastructure, such as sanitation, electricity connections, installation of polyclinics or police detachments, which, he considered, facilitates the settlers’ roots.
He explained that the institute developed an application for cell phones that allows notification when there is an empty house, pay the monthly fee and enroll in the different plans. Currently, 13% of the participants pay for the application and 70% of the complaints are registered through this means.
About 80 community infrastructure works in 2022
The president of Mevir said that actions are being developed in the search for new lines of financing, which intend to carry out more housing plans, and consolidate the program as an executing arm of the Ministry of Housing.
He also indicated that work is being done on the rural housing emergency to eliminate settlements and create online gender programs, since 60% of the program participants are women.
He also said that 2022 will be the record year for community infrastructure works with almost 80 works by agreement, and that this five-year period will be the period with the largest amount of community infrastructure in the history of Mevir.
Regarding housing solutions, he stated that 25 plans are underway and another 13 in the call stage, which totals some 38 housing plans for 2022, in all the departments of the interior.
Finally, a personalized stamp made by the Uruguayan Post was presented on the occasion of the celebration of 55 years of Mevir.
