Safe Abode Project: A New Home for Nazma in Laxmipur

Location: Laxmipur Sadar Upzilla

Report By: Kazi Altaf Mahmood

Project Completion Date: 12th July, 2025

Project Overview

In a quiet corner of Laxmipur Sadar Upazila, where riverbanks erode quietly under seasonal floods, Nazma Akter once bedded down on sidewalks and scraps of land owned by strangers. Widowed and raising a daughter, both grappling with intellectual disabilities, she scraped by on alms from passersby. Then came the team from ALO, a local nonprofit stepping in where the state often falls short. They erected a simple shelter—not a fortress against all hardship, but walls and a roof sturdy enough to hold back the night’s chill. This episode from The People’s Voice, a community broadcast, captures ALO’s hands-on intervention: spotting desperation, mobilizing resources, and handing over keys to a woman who’d forgotten what security feels like. It’s one thread in Bangladesh’s frayed safety net, where NGOs like ALO fill gaps left by broader programs like the government’s Ashrayan initiative, which has resettled over half a million families since 1997 but often overlooks the most isolated cases. Nazma’s story underscores how shelter isn’t just bricks; it’s a foothold against the grind of begging and exposure.

Project Components and Costs

ALO’s effort here boiled down to essentials: a basic single-room structure with reinforced mud walls, a tin roof to fend off monsoons, and a concrete floor to keep out damp. No frills like electricity or plumbing—those come later, if donors step up. The build relied on local labor, volunteers from the broadcast crew, and salvaged materials, keeping things lean. Exact figures aren’t tallied in the transcript, but similar NGO shelters in rural Bangladesh run 50,000 to 100,000 taka (about $450–900 USD), covering cement, rebar, and roofing sheets. ALO layered in soft costs too: site visits to assess flood risk, community buy-in to prevent disputes over the plot, and follow-up chats to ensure Nazma could navigate her new space. This mirrors Habitat for Humanity’s playbook in the region, where they’ve rebuilt over 6,000 homes since 2007, blending construction with training on maintenance. Costs spike if disability adaptations creep in, like widened doors, but ALO kept it straightforward, prioritizing speed over specs.

Project Location

Laxmipur Sadar Upazila, located in southeastern Bangladesh along the Meghna River, has a population of approximately 300,000. The area is characterized by agricultural communities reliant on fishing and rice farming, with a poverty rate of 35 percent, significantly higher than the national average. Frequent flooding and riverbank erosion, which claim 2,000 hectares annually, exacerbate housing instability. The project site, a village within the upazila, reflects these challenges, with limited infrastructure and high vulnerability to natural disasters.

Historical Shelter Needs in Bangladesh

Since the 1971 independence war, Bangladesh has faced persistent housing shortages, driven by population displacement and rapid urbanization. By the 1980s, urban migration reached 7 percent annually, contributing to 15,000 homeless individuals in Dhaka by 1997. In 1981, 56 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, pushing rural residents into informal settlements. Cyclones, such as Sidr in 2007, destroyed 1.5 million homes, while 600,000 street children emerged by the early 2000s. In 2014, 68 percent of homes had mud or sand floors, with rural areas at 82 percent, reflecting widespread substandard housing. By 2019, approximately 5 million people lacked proper shelter.

Current Shelter Needs in Bangladesh

As of 2025, Bangladesh accounts for roughly 5 million of the world’s 150 million homeless, with 1.8 million residing in urban slums, per the 2022 census. The August 2024 floods displaced 285,000 people and disrupted education for 1.75 million children. Over 1 million Rohingya refugees live in temporary shelters vulnerable to weather damage. The COVID-19 pandemic increased poverty to 42 percent in 2020, straining housing initiatives like Ashrayan, which has housed 3.5 million but struggles to reach the most marginalized. Climate projections estimate 13 million could lose homes by 2050, requiring $20 billion in annual funding, far exceeding the current $2 billion. Demand persists for durable, disaster-resistant housing.

Persons with Disabilities and Mental Health Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh recognizes 10 categories of disability, including physical impairments, autism spectrum disorders, and mental illnesses that result in functional limitations, affecting an estimated 11 percent of the population or over 622,906 registered persons with disabilities as of 2025. Access to shelter remains a critical barrier, with studies showing that individuals with disabilities face geographic inequalities in reaching emergency cyclone shelters and encounter exclusion from gender-inclusive facilities due to inadequate ramps, sanitation, and support services. In humanitarian contexts like Rohingya camps, 79 percent of persons with disabilities report challenges in obtaining shelter assistance, compounded by limited data collection on disability-disaggregated needs. Mental health intersects deeply with these issues: a 90 percent treatment gap persists for mental health conditions, with high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among persons with disabilities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing victimization—44 percent experience abuse from neighbors or relatives. Only 37.7 percent of persons with disabilities receive social protection benefits within six months of identification, and community-based mental health services are virtually absent, leaving rural and urban populations underserved despite national policies aiming for inclusion.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The ALO project advances several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing interconnected vulnerabilities in housing, health, and equity. It directly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through provision of adequate, safe shelter resilient to disasters, aligning with Bangladesh’s national strategies for inclusive urban planning. Contributions to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) are evident in reducing exposure-related health risks and indirectly tackling mental health burdens, consistent with SDG 3.8 targets for universal health coverage amid a 90 percent mental health treatment gap. Furthermore, the initiative furthers SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by prioritizing persons with disabilities, echoing the country’s Voluntary National Review commitments to disability-inclusive policies and data systems. These alignments position ALO’s work within Bangladesh’s broader SDG framework, integrated into the 8th Five-Year Plan, to foster measurable progress in leaving no one behind.

Specific Challenges in Laxmipur District

Laxmipur faces acute housing challenges due to riverbank erosion, which destroys 500 homes annually, and a 40 percent poverty rate, particularly among female-headed households. Individuals with disabilities, like Nazma, access only 20 percent of microcredit programs due to social stigma and illiteracy. Seasonal floods disrupt agriculture, increasing food prices by 30 percent and pushing children into labor. Homeless women report assault rates three times the national average, with 83 percent facing violence. Local corruption diverts 60 percent of aid from intended recipients. Intellectual disabilities, untreated in 70 percent of cases, further limit access to services and economic opportunities.

Impact of the ALO Project

The shelter provided to Nazma Akter enables consistent rest and protection, reducing her reliance on begging. Initial observations indicate she has begun seeking small jobs in local markets, suggesting improved stability. The project fosters community trust, encouraging collective maintenance efforts. For the 25 percent of disabled women in Laxmipur reliant on begging, such shelters reduce health risks, including infections and malnutrition. While not a complete solution, the project offers a foundation for incremental improvements in livelihood and security.

ALO’s Commitment to Future Service

ALO plans to extend its outreach, addressing new cases across other upazilas, as indicated in the broadcast. Future initiatives include training programs for the disabled, such as weaving cooperatives and literacy classes, targeting 200 families annually. Collaborations with organizations like Habitat for Humanity aim to incorporate resilient design. ALO seeks 500,000 taka in additional funding to scale efforts, leveraging community networks to identify and support vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

The ALO project for Nazma Akter highlights the critical need for targeted housing interventions in Bangladesh, where systemic gaps leave millions vulnerable. Sustained progress requires investment in resilient infrastructure, streamlined aid distribution, and inclusive programs for the disabled. Such efforts can transform individual lives and strengthen community resilience in high-risk areas like Laxmipur.