Whether traced to land reforms following the Mexican revolution, or to family plots subdivided for generations, many of Mexico's poorest families own small parcels of land...but little that could be called a house. They live in structures of stone, wood, sticks and tarps where protection from cold and rain is an impossibility.

For some of the families, disability or age makes it difficult to earn enough for adequate food and clothing. Improved housing is beyond their grasp.

Some families have lost men to "el norte" - perhaps driven by the dream of saving money and returning later to build a decent home for the family left behind. But the dream was not fulfilled and the women and children now are on their own.

Regardless of the reasons, Casita Linda has seen how a small home can help keep a family together, provide a sense of security and create a foundation for hope for the future.

According to the 2000 census, in Mexico there are 17 million peple living in extreme poverty. The Casita Linda model is working to make a difference, one house, one family and one community at a time. And we are completing a manual that is intended to enable others to replicate our methods anywhere in the world.