The problem of urban poverty, and precarious habitability has increased in the last decades. Such a growth of urban poor population has overwhelmed the local institutions and international development agencies. The scale and velocity of urban population growth suppose nowadays a major challenge. Many housing policies have been undertaken though many papers discuss their efficiency. This paper reviews part of the last years literature concerning the challenges of housing shortage in several countries in the Tropics and Subtropics. It makes an approach on the urban planning strategies undertaken in the last decades, most common housing policies and their implementation and results. Then it focused on grassroots organizations capabilities and in the possible strategies to support them. Finally the paper reviews some proposals for poverty understanding as a basis for new possible strategies for fighting urban poverty
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 URBAN PLANNING STRATEGIES AND HOUSING POLICIES CHALLENGES.
3 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
4 STRATEGIES SUPORTING GRASSROOTS
5 APPROACH TO NEW PROPOSALS.
6 CONCLUSIONS
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper explores the escalating challenge of urban poverty and housing shortages within the Tropics and Subtropics, aiming to evaluate the efficacy of past urban planning strategies and the role of grassroots organizations in fostering sustainable development. The core research question addresses how current housing policies can be adapted to better align with the needs of the urban poor while leveraging local community mobilization.
- Evolution of urban planning strategies and housing policy implementation.
- Capacity and mobilization potential of grassroots organizations in urban settings.
- Challenges associated with forced relocation and lack of tenure in informal settlements.
- Integration of the "Human Scale Development" concept as a framework for poverty reduction.
- Strategies for international aid to better support local, self-help housing initiatives.
Excerpt from the Book
3 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
The formal housing market has been unable to absorb the high urban population growth in recent decades, and this has led to the spontaneous and self-constructed establishment of slums in cities. Central governments have not had the capacity to respond to this growth of population, the suburbs are overcrowded and migrants have been forced to develop in informal modes of occupancy and survive in conditions of lack of infrastructure and basic services while waiting for a response from the central institutions (Keivani & Werner, 2007).
While it is true that these pockets of poverty are neither desirable nor appropriate solutions, they are nevertheless the self-constructed proposal of their residents facing the problem of homelessness that goes beyond the institutions. This highlights the potential to action of the urban poor dwellers. (Bredenoord & Lindert, 2009). In this regard and in view of the impending demand for housing, more attention should be paid by institutions to the potential that self-built housing can offer ( Ibid, 2009).
“Assisted self-help housing is the most affordable and intelligent way of providing sustainable shelter. It is cheap because it is based on minimum standards and incorporates a substantive amount of sweat equity. It is useful because individuals and communities engaged in it acquire precious skills. It is practical because it responds to people's actual need and levels of affordability. It is flexible because dwelling units are often designed to be able to expand over time. But all construction, and particularly incremental upgrading, requires a suitable supply of building materials, components and fittings”. UN-Habitat (2005 : 166).
Chapter Summaries
1 INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the rapid global urbanization trend and the resulting surge in urban poverty, setting the stage for a critical review of housing shortages.
2 URBAN PLANNING STRATEGIES AND HOUSING POLICIES CHALLENGES.: This section examines historical international and local housing programs, noting the general failure of conventional, top-down approaches to meet the needs of low-income families.
3 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS: The focus here is on the emergence of self-constructed settlements and the potential of grassroots organizations to drive development through collective action.
4 STRATEGIES SUPORTING GRASSROOTS: This chapter evaluates current international initiatives aimed at supporting local groups and emphasizes the need for reduced dependency on foreign aid.
5 APPROACH TO NEW PROPOSALS.: This chapter discusses alternative frameworks, specifically "Human Scale Development," to move beyond purely economic metrics of poverty.
6 CONCLUSIONS: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing for a paradigm shift toward empowering local organizations and rethinking development through the lens of human needs.
Keywords
Urban planning, Housing policies, Urban poor, Self-help housing, Grassroots, Empowerment, Human Scale Development, Urban poverty, Informal settlements, Sustainable shelter, Infrastructure, Participation, Community mobilization, Development agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the housing crisis in the Tropics and Subtropics, analyzing how urban planning and housing policies often fail to address the needs of the urban poor.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the failure of formal housing markets, the rise of informal settlements, the importance of grassroots mobilization, and the necessity of shifting to a more human-centered development approach.
What is the main goal of this scientific work?
The goal is to review existing literature to identify why current housing strategies are ineffective and to propose better ways for institutions to support grassroots self-help initiatives.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The research is conducted as a literature review, synthesizing findings from various studies, reports, and theoretical frameworks related to urban development and poverty reduction.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers the history of housing policies, the role of international agencies, the capabilities of residents' organizations, and the conceptual shift required to address urban poverty effectively.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Significant keywords include urban planning, grassroots, housing policies, empowerment, and self-help housing.
How does "Human Scale Development" differ from conventional poverty analysis?
It shifts the focus from purely economic indicators to a system of interrelated human needs, arguing that quality of life is determined by the possibility to satisfy these fundamental needs.
What role do grassroots organizations play according to the author?
They act as essential actors who, faced with institutional failure, organize collectively to improve services, secure land tenure, and negotiate with the state for better living conditions.
- Quote paper
- Helena Cermeño Mediavilla (Author), 2010, Approach to housing challenges: urban policies and grassroots mobilization in the Tropics and Subtropics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163806
