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16 The Armenian Reporter | July 26, 2008ArmeniaLocal and visiting volunteers with the FullerCenter for Housing build homes in Khor VirapFuller Center’sinternational andlocal volunteerspose for a groupphoto at the endof a long, hardday. Photos:Grigor Hakobyanfor the ArmenianReporter.They help makedreams come trueThe Khachatryans ofKhor Virap hope tospend Christmas intheir new homeby Maria TitizianKHOR VIRAP, Armenia – The FullerCenter for Housing Armenia hostedits second group of internationalvolunteers this past week. The volunteersworked on building a homefor the Khachatryan family of KhorVirap. The family of eight has nothad permanent shelter for years.They have been living in a half-builthome belonging to a neighbor whois living in Russia. The internationalteam of volunteers worked tirelesslyfor seven days, laying downa new concrete floor and installinginsulation for the roof. The internationalvolunteers led by Levon(Leo) Manuelian from New York,were joined at the construction siteby the family, their relatives, fellowvillagers, and young local volunteers.The Khachatryans hope tomove into their new home to spendChristmas in the warmth and shelterof their very own house.Every family has the right todecent shelter. Every child deservesa home. In Armenia, affordablehousing has becomescarce commodity. While therehas been dramatic growth in thereal estate market, the majority ofresidential construction is affordableonly for wealthy customers.Home ownership has increasinglybecome inaccessible, even to themiddle class.Studies show that approximately5 percent of Armenian familiesSlavik Khachatryan, 39, is a tailorfrom the village of Khor Virapin the Ararat region. He is marriedto Gayane, 34, and together theyhave six children. Kristine, whois 16 years old, has just graduatedfrom high school, but will not beable to attend university for financialreasons. Then there’s 12-yearoldZepyur; 10-year-old Hovsep,the only boy of the brood; Ester,who is 8 years old; Hrut, 6 yearsold, and finally 4-year-old Rebeka.The Khachatryans supplementSlavik’s income by growing watermelons,tomatoes, and cornon their farm. They were livingwith Slavik’s brothers and theirfamilies in one bedroom of a fourroomhome. As the Khachatryanfamily grew, it became impossiblefor them to stay in one room andthus they moved to an unfinishedhouse of a neighbor who lives inRussia. They have lived there forseven years, during which timethey had hoped to finish their ownhouse. The building of this housebecame impossible for a familywith six children.When the Khachatryans were informedthat they had been chosenby the Fuller Center for HousingArmenia to complete their house,they were overwhelmed. The prospectof finally being in their veryown home for Christmas had beenan impossible dream.– 40,000 of them – are withoutpermanent shelter. Approximately40 percent of those families live intemporary shelters, such as metalshipping containers known asThe Khachatryan Family“For me the important thing isthat we will have our very ownhouse,” Gayane said. Althoughshe is only 34, Gayane looks mucholder than her years, the effects ofpoverty mapped out prematurelyon her face. But look closely, andthere is youth and vigor yet in hersparkling eyes.When we asked Slavik to tryto convey his feelings, not onlyabout the Fuller Center’s financing,but about the volunteerswho had been working on hishouse for days, he said, “It’s ajoyous thing, a kind thing, andI am thankful to everyone, toGod, to the Fuller organization,to the donors and organizers, toeveryone. We are grateful for everysingle pail of concrete that ismoved.” When I asked him whenthey expect to be finished withthe building, he said, “If we cancontinue at this pace, the housewill be ready in one month. Butwe think we should have it completedby November.”Gayane is quick to tell us thatmany of the villagers, friends andfamily, have been continuouslyhelping them with the constructionof their house.The house will have three bedrooms,a kitchen, living room, andone large bathroom to accommodateall eight members of the Khachatryanfamily.fdomiks. With the devastating effectof the earthquake in 1988, whichleft thousands homeless, and thedisplaced Armenians from Azerbaijan,the country was faced witha housing crisis. Affordable housingfor low-income families becamean urgent and pressing problem forContinued on page 17 mSlavik and Gayane Khachatryan with their six children, Rebeka, Hrut, Ester,Hovsep, Zepyur, and Kristine. Photo: Armenian Reporter.