With Habitat for Humanity's help, 21 families from dump are to receive homes in November.

DURING the launch of its Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project on Wednesday, Habitat for Humanity Cambodia announced plans to build 21 homes for city residents who used to make their living scavenging from garbage at the Stung Meanchey dump before it was closed earlier this week.

The new homes will be built near Udong mountain in Kandal province, where an Australian couple, Paul and Aileen Munn, purchased a 3,000-square-metre plot of land for the community.

Construction work for the project, called the Mekong Build, will take place in November at sites in five countries, including Cambodia's Udong site. Over five days, hundreds of volunteers from around the world will work with the communities to construct new homes.

Former US president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will volunteer their time for the build, but they have not disclosed the site at which they plan to work.

Habitat for Humanity Country Director Bernadette Bolo-Duthy said the organisation would not be giving away new homes, as families will be required to pay US$15 per month for five years and put in at least 250 hours of construction work.

Bolo-Duthy said the houses would be built with local materials.

Chea Chandy, the leader of the community, which has been named the "New Life Community", said the proximity to Udong mountain, a popular tourist destination, and to a number of garment factories would the give the community ample employment opportunities.

Chea Chandy said he believed the new homes near Udong mountain would give the community a new lease on life.

"I hope the new generation will have bright opportunities for their lives," he said at the launch event.