Contact & FAQ’s

Nigel Hyde first visited Sierra Leone straight after the brutal civil war, in 2003.  Having worked in many developing countries he concluded that it had the most chronic problem he has seen.  After 2 years of research looking at the slum problem, he gave up his role leading Mission Direct (which he founded in 2004 and led until handing to others until 2014.  There he had taken over 3,000 self-funding volunteers to help the world’s poor, mobilising over 500 people to Sierra Leone.  Mission Direct built schools, clinics, shelters, wells, toilets and more, joining local partners in what they were well.

International indices typically rank Sierra Leone as one of the poorest nations on earth, lowest life expectancy, highest endemic corruption, highest infant mortality, lowest literacy levels…  Whilst the country survives through international aid, little makes it to help the estimated 750,000+ slum dwellers of Freetown.

Every family that receives a home will grow in dignity, health and education.  The significantly better surroundings enable them to make the most of employment and education opportunities and be able to contribute to their community in a new way.

The present government, elected in 2018, issued a plan in February 2019 in which they recognised the importance of investing in a low cost home programme.  Its predecessor had no plan.  Whilst there are many reports, Home Leone is currently, really the only substantive affordable low-cost housing approach in the country.  Our 7 pillar relocation strategy has proved the concept in its Newton pilot and is ready to roll out, significantly reducing human suffering and offering human flourishing.  We seek partners that will enable many thousands and millions as this initiative provides a catalyst to life change.

Ebola is a truly devastating disease that had the potential to bring Sierra Leone to its knees.  It brought fear among the people and neighbours closing their borders.  International flights (like BA) cancelled coming, trade declined and economic activity reduced.  The last case was in November 2015.

COVID brought another round of isolation and it was a battle to progress through the pandemic.  This gave us opportunity to review our learning and build firmer foundations.

One strand to Home Leones plan is to bring corporate teams and visionary people to Sierra Leone.  To understand the problems and to help build the homes, schools, businesses and clinics so urgently needed.  Your teams are welcome to come now, so get in touch today and find out more.

The former President, Vice President and many leaders of the government that left office in 2018 visited the village.  They made thankful and complimentary comments but did nothing to support the work.  They had no plan for the slums.  The Vice President and 10+ current government Ministers have visited our work and noted how what we are doing is in line with their aspirations and hopes for the nation. Another election is due in 2023.  We hope addressing the slums and low cost affordable housing may make the leaders manifestos.

Freetown City Council addressed the issue in their structure plan so know they need 280,000 by 2028 (including a backlog of over 150,000).  They have no resources yet allocated to address the problem.  The Mayor has visited and  started an initiative with leading NGO’s, which Home Leone helped formulate.  The Mayer of Freetown and Chairman of Western Rural Area agreed a memorandum to build 5,000 homes in the Freetown Rural area. Ours remains the only initiative that has delivered its plans.

Our research and listening concluded that the core houses will contain a parlour, front veranda, 2 bedrooms, an open kitchen, wash area, wash rooms and latrines. Drinking and non-drinking water is piped to each home and sanitation is covered by piping waste to distant cess pits and effective drainage. The 2 bedrooms and a parlour are inside the private space. The kitchen and wash up space is in a public/private setting. Each house has a toilet that can be squat or sit and each house shares a shower/wash facility with one other house. Each compound measures 29m x 29m, adjusted a bit for tree locations.

The first 60 homes have been organised in compounds of 8 homes with a community space between them which is available for community activities such as washing or football.

We are using bricks made of compressed soil and 10% cement – a bit like lego blocks.  Amazingly, God provided our village to be built on the perfect soil for Brick Making. Our factory has already produced over 500,000 blocks for use and for sale.

The phase 2 house designs have now been adopted stripping out some cost to make them more affordable.  This will enable more people to move.  The savings come in using bamboo for iron rod, mud brick render for Hydrafom (75%), appropriate foundations, wooden windows and 12V lights allowing the 240V systems to come later.

The first 60 homes averaged around £6,000 in direct cost.  The land and overhead allocation suggest each would cost around £8,500 in total.  In other countries our experience suggested they run between £2,500 and £6,000 depending how basic or otherwise they are made.  Unfortunately Sierra Leone imports most of its needs meaning things just cost more than countries like Vietnam or The Dominican Republic.

In Sierra Leone, cement is very expensive so we are looking at ways to minimise its use.  Additional site funds are needed to cover things like land clearance, digging wells or bringing water to site and making basic roadways.

We have now piloted a Dove House design which costs around £4,500.  This reduces the specification but is the way forward.  In addition we have a 2 storey eagle house, one bed apartments and a home for the disabled.

Due to Freetown’s vast housing needs, a detailed and in depth process of beneficiary selection has been developed in order to identify firstly, those most vulnerable and secondly, those most likely to thrive within the context of Destiny Village. Along with determining whom, this process has also helped to illustrate more specifically how individuals are impacted by their living conditions and what their relocation needs may be. This process has been designed for replication to scale with the view that thousands of families are expected to apply and to be relocated to new homes.

Yes, it’s important they have a stake in the property.  They will pay proportionate to their income (which is a sinificant multiple of their pre move income).  All residents agree to contribute 3 hours a week of community service.

In principle yes.  Unfortunately, the land the slums are on, cannot be acquired and if we built there to help people, unscrupulous landlords would throw the people off and take possession.  There are many land disputes in Sierra Leone making title a real challenge to establish.  That is also why building businesses to provide employment and provide low cost micro-loans is a key part of the plan.