扶輪社員要協助人們改善生活，從不嫌偏遠。在墨西哥的北山村，第4180地區(墨西哥的特拉卡拉普布拉、摩瑞羅、和古瑞羅省)與第5510地區(美國亞利桑那州)的扶輪社員，正推動一項興建25間低成本住所的計劃。從這個村莊開車5個小時ん沿途經過險惡地形，才能抵達最近的扶輪社所在的普布拉。

No area is too remote for Rotarians to help people build better lives. In Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico, Rotarians in districts 4180 (Tlaxcala, Puebla, Morelos, and Guerrero, Mexico) and 5510 (Arizona, USA) are sponsoring a project to construct 25 low-cost shelters. The village is a five-hour drive over very difficult terrain from Puebla, the location of the nearest Rotary club. 

這個區域仍可見到1999年土石流所造成的破壞殘跡，第5510地區前總監羅德里克(Norma Taylor-Roderique)在給扶輪基金會的報告中寫道：「幾乎每個人都在那次災變中失去臨時搭建的房舍，許多人喪生。」

The area still bears the scars of the 1999 mudslides, wrote Norma Taylor-Roderique, past governor of District 5510, in a report to The Rotary Foundation: "Almost everyone lost their makeshift homes in that catastrophe, and many people were killed." 

這個計劃跟當地先前2個住宅計劃一樣，是由扶輪基金會配合獎助金所資助。羅德里克在報告之前的計劃(現已完成)時說：「當地人非常以他們的新家為傲。當我進入村子裡，他們都以微笑、擁抱、及握手來歡迎我。」

Like two previous shelters projects in the area, this effort is aided by a Foundation Matching Grant. "The people are very proud of their homes," reported Taylor-Roderique of the earlier projects, now complete. "When I entered the village, I was greeted with smiles, hugs, and handshakes." 

這項住宅計劃已經衍生出其他計劃。在一個社區，正在開辦一個養蜂企業，生產的蜂蜜將足以支持60個家庭的生計。一項復林的計劃，以及為各住所裝置太陽能烤箱的計劃，也都研究中。

The shelters initiative has taken on a life of its own. In one community, a beehive enterprise is underway that will produce enough honey to support some 60 families. A reforestation project is being explored, as well as an effort to equip houses with solar ovens. 

據羅德里克表非示，墨西哥政府及墨西哥銀行也十分認可這項計劃，並將以小額貸款計劃的方式延續下去。墨國政府將提供土地，該銀行將融資興建住所，普布拉(Puebla)扶輪社的基金會將為貸款擔保。

According to Taylor-Roderique, the Mexican government and the Bank of Mexico are so impressed with the project that they will continue it as a microloan program. The government will donate the land, the bank will finance the shelters, and the Puebla Rotary club's foundation will guarantee the loans. 

到目前為止，扶輪基金會已經發出近500筆配合獎助金來興建低成本住所，總計超過500萬美元；再加上主辦者的捐款很容易讓總金額超過1000萬美元。這些獎助金已經在30個國家資助興建超過7630間住所。

To date, The Rotary Foundation has awarded approximately 500 Matching Grants totaling more than US$5 million for low-cost shelters; sponsor contributions would easily double that amount. The grants have funded construction of more than 7,630 shelters in 30 countries.