Housing NOW is responding to the urgent housing needs of people displaced by conflict and disasters in Myanmar. Many families are forced to live in unsafe, temporary shelters with little protection from extreme weather or earthquakes. Housing NOW offers a practical and dignified alternative.
The project builds homes, schools and health facilities using bamboo, a material that is widely available, renewable and familiar to local communities. By combining traditional knowledge with new treatment methods and prefabricated components, Housing NOW creates structures that are strong, low carbon and quick to assemble. These buildings are designed to withstand earthquakes and harsh conditions, while remaining affordable and easy to repair.
Local people are at the heart of the approach. Displaced communities help design and build their own homes, gaining skills that can be shared and reused. Construction teams can be deployed where access allows, while illustrated manuals enable communities in hard-to-reach or insecure areas to build independently. This focus on knowledge transfer reduces reliance on external aid and strengthens long-term resilience.
Housing NOW works in some of Myanmar’s most challenging contexts, including conflict-affected regions and informal urban settlements. Its housing is provided free of charge to vulnerable families, with particular attention to women-led households and people with disabilities. At the same time, local artisans and builders benefit from training and employment opportunities.
By blending bio-material innovation, community leadership and environmental responsibility, Housing NOW shows how emergency and transitional housing can be delivered differently at scale and without external aid. Its adaptable bamboo model has the potential to be used wherever bamboo is part of the local building culture, offering a hopeful path towards safer, more resilient communities.
