About the Founder

Joe Collins is a licensed New Jersey private investigator who first became familiar with the needs of the Guatemalan community when, in 1999, he visited his son Darron who was studying the language and culture of the Q'eqhi'-Maya people, an indigenous group in northern Guatemala. During his stay, he witnessed firsthand the devastating extent of poverty in Guatemala and, profoundly impacted by his trip, he began volunteering for an organization in 2001 that gathered service teams to build homes for the poor. He returned home empowered to further help families, and with generous help from friends, raised funds for this organization and returned to Guatemala on 11 different occasions, sometimes for 3 months at a time, to enhance the building efforts of that organization.

Recognizing family homes as the cornerstone for improving lives and developing communities, Joe started From Houses to Homes (De Casas a Hogares) in late 2004, providing individual families with a better home and a fresh start in life.  Joe does not take a salary from From Houses to Homes.

Board of Directors, From Houses to Homes-Guatemala, Inc.

Accomplishments - January 1, 2005 to September 7, 2008

• 166 new homes built providing housing for 1,006 people.
• 11 homes repaired providing housing for 50 people.
• Registration and school supplies paid for 564 children for the 2008 school year.
  
• Registration and school supplies paid for 269 children in 2007, 54 children in 2006, and 18 children in 2005. Total of 905 children educated.
• 53 bunk beds with mattresses, sheets, pillows and blankets provided plus 10 other beds with mattresses, sheets, blankets and pillows.
• 20 school desks for students at a school in Santa Marie de Jesus.
• Built 2 bathrooms and repaired 1 classroom for a school in Santa Maria de Jesus.
• Due to the water shortage in Santa Maria de Jesus we provided a water tank to a school so students would have enough water for their personal use and the use of the school bathrooms.
• Helped Asociacion Cambiando Vidas (Changing Lives), a school in Pastores, Guatemala, and repaired their roof and classroom ceilings, as well as other small repairs.
• Provided financial assistance to the Prof. Rigoberto Zamora Charuc School in Parramos, Guatemala, so they can provide education to 150 students for the 2008 school year.
• Provided laptops and computer education for teachers at a school in San Mateo, Guatemala, so they will be able to teach their students.
  
• Thousands of pounds of new and used clothing and shoes distributed.
• Many adults and children provided with food and medicine.

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi