Chile: Here am I. Send me!

In February this year, Chile was devastated by one of the most catastrophic wildfire outbreaks in its history.

More than 29,000 hectares of land were scorched, marking the country’s worst disaster since the 2010 earthquake. The cities of Viña del Mar and Quilpué were particularly hard hit, with 12,000 hectares burned in Viña del Mar and 2,000 hectares in Quilpué. The death toll reached 132, and more than 15,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 31,000 people without shelter.

The government, local authorities and humanitarian organisations have been helping the affected families. Among them, The Salvation Army has been a steadfast presence on the ground, since the beginning providing hot meals to survivors, rescue workers and first responders. The need for emergency housing has become one of the most urgent challenges, especially for families without financial resources to rebuild.

Unwavering commitment

In response to this crisis, The Salvation Army’s South America West Territory is stepping in to provide relief by building prefabricated houses, focusing on Viña del Mar. Territorial Development Projects Coordinator Noelia Pintos underscores the Salvation Army’s unwavering commitment: ‘Serving suffering humanity is in our DNA, and our hearts and efforts continue to stand with all those impacted by this emergency.’

In coordination with the Municipality and other stakeholders, 50 vulnerable families in the community were selected to receive a prefabricated house. Families benefitting from this project were chosen using the Municipality’s vulnerability criteria and list, and those selected for this response include people living with disabilities.

Provision for those who lost everything

These 36-square-metre homes have two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen, providing families with a stable foundation as they begin to rebuild their lives. At a cost of $4,524 per unit, these prefabricated dwellings offer a practical, cost-effective solution to the housing crisis. Prefabricated houses are prevalent in Chile and will provide people who have lost everything an essential new home.

The Salvation Army continues to mobilise its officers, staff and volunteers in this vital effort, standing in solidarity with those impacted and praying for the successful implementation of this project and for the affected families to find safety, comfort and dignity in their new homes.