Since 2025, Habitat Japan has been expanding its facility improvement program throughout welfare facilities in and around Tokyo. On September 11th, 2025, 22 employees from Hilton Grand Vacations volunteered at a shelter for mothers and children, helping make improvements to the facility’s foyer.
Built approximately 20 years ago, the shelter currently houses around 15 mother-and-child households. These families, facing challenges such as domestic violence and financial hardship, can receive support for two years as they prepare to live independently.
While the facility strives to provide a safe and comfortable living environment, changes in lifestyle have led to inconveniences and a crowded entryway.
For example, each household had access to one shoe rack with two shelves each, and any additional footwear had to be stored in residents’ rooms. Additionally, umbrella stands accommodated only three umbrellas per household, and with the increased use of sun parasols in the summer, umbrellas overflowed throughout the foyer area. In response to the facility’s request to create an easier to use entryway, volunteers from Hilton Grand Vacations assembled new shoe racks and umbrella stands.
Volunteers divided into three teams to assemble shoes racks, assemble umbrella stands, and to clean and repair the entryway and its existing shoe racks. With excellent teamwork, the work progressed smoothly, broken shelves were repaired, and the foyer was revitalized with new umbrella stands and new and repaired shoe racks.
During a break from volunteering, the director of the facility kindly took the time to explain the facility, its background, the types of support it offers, and insight into the backgrounds and daily lives of its residents. Participants listened attentively and asked questions, expressing surprise and appreciation, remarking, “I didn’t know such facilities existed nearby,” and “It’s reassuring to know that anyone can access these places through government support.” The event provided a valuable opportunity for volunteers to deepen their understanding of what kind of local support systems exist.
Habitat for Humanity Japan continues to work with volunteers to improve the living environments of welfare facilities, aiming to create safe and decent places to live. We will continue working closely with facilities to address the challenges they face and support steps toward independence for socially vulnerable individuals like single mothers and their children.