One home, one family, one new beginning in Bangladesh

One home, one family, one new beginning in Bangladesh 

How a safe roof over her family’s head gave Kohinur back her peace of mind 

Kohinur learned something many of us never have to think about: that peace of mind can come from having a safe place to call home. 

For years, that peace was hard to come by. 

A family of five, one room 

Kohinur lives in Bangladesh with her husband, her adult son, her 14-year-old daughter, and her niece. All five of them share a single-room house. 

During the dry months, it’s cramped but manageable. During the rainy season, it becomes something else entirely: water leaking through the roof, flooding the floor, and leaving almost nowhere for the family to keep themselves or their belongings dry. 

It wasn’t always this way for Kohinur. She grew up having what she describes as a comfortable childhood. Everything changed after she married. Her husband’s family didn’t own a home in their village, and with no stable income, the couple moved cities hoping to build a better life. Like so many low-income families, they ended up in an informal settlement, and instead of the fresh start they’d hoped for, they found themselves struggling just to get through each day. 

When a home becomes a health risk 

The house they settled into was in poor condition from the start. Every rainy season, water poured through the roof and pooled on the floor. Clothes, bedding, schoolbooks, and household belongings were regularly soaked or ruined. With limited access to safe water and sanitation, the damp conditions left the family vulnerable to skin infections, itching, and disease. 

Then came another blow. Kohinur’s husband was seriously injured in an accident, leaving him with a permanent leg injury and unable to work. As the family’s main breadwinner, his injury meant the responsibility of supporting the household shifted onto Kohinur and her son. 

Through it all, one question stayed with her: 

“When will I ever be able to repair this house?” 

A turning point, through the local community 

That question finally started to find an answer when Kohinur learned about Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh through her local Community Wellbeing Committee (CWC). 

Following a community-based selection process, her family was chosen to receive house renovation support. Habitat’s team visited the home, spoke with the family about their needs, and assessed the condition of the house before renovation work began. 

The change was immediate. The repaired roof no longer leaks. The floor stays dry, even through heavy rain. The family no longer has to watch their belongings get ruined every wet season. Kohinur’s daughter now has a quiet, safe space to study, and everyone in the household can finally sleep through the night without worrying about the weather. 

Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh also provided training on home maintenance, so Kohinur has the knowledge and confidence to look after her home for years to come. 

“As a woman, having a safe home gives me peace of mind,” Kohinur says. “The day the repair work started, I felt hope again. I knew my family would finally have a safe place to live.” 

What a safe home really means 

Today, when the rain comes, it stays outside where it belongs. Kohinur’s children can sleep without worrying about getting wet, and the family can look toward monsoon season with far less fear and uncertainty than before. 

For Kohinur, the renovation is about more than a stronger roof and drier floors. It has given her family back their sense of security, dignity, and hope. 

Looking ahead, her dream is a simple one: a happy life with her husband and children, where they can live safely, stay healthy, and face the future with confidence. Because a safe home isn’t just shelter; it’s the foundation everything else is built on. 

Help build more stories like Kohinur’s. Habitat for Humanity works alongside families and local communities to build and repair safe, affordable homes around the world. If you’d like to learn more about our work or find a way to get involved, get in touch with our team, we’d love to hear from you. 

These projects receive support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and are in partnership with our implementing partner Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh.