Europe

	In many European and Central Asian countries, the kitchen is more than a place to prepare food. Family and friends gather here, making it the emotional heart of the house. To be culturally appropriate, a decent house should include a kitchen large enough for the family to eat together.
	Since this house was built in 1999, Eastern European affiliates have worked to reduce house sizes to make houses more affordable to build and to own.
	Winters are cold, and utilities are expensive, so special care is taken to insulate Habitat houses well.
	Space to grow a small garden makes a big difference in homeowners' abilities to supplement their diets with fresh vegetables.
	It is not uncommon in Central and Eastern Europe for families living in prefabricated concrete block buildings to share common toilet facilities with 20 other building residents. The simple luxury of a bathroom just for the family significantly improves the quality of life.