Cities have a long tradition; they exist since thousands of years. They have always had attractive power to mankind. 200 years ago just a small proportion of men was living in cities. Today nearly three billions of people live in urban areas - this is the half of the total world population - and it is estimated by international institutions like UN or World Bank, that this number will go on growing. With an increasing number of people living in cities several problems do come up. One very - maybe the most - important problem is housing the urban poor in the mega-cities of the developing world.
Tipple/Willis (1991: 1) argue that
"Housing the poor in the developing world is one of the major challenges facing mankind in the last decade of the twentieth century".
my opinion, this challenge does still exist in the twenty-first century. And this challenge does not only exist in the developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America but also in the industrialised world, like the USA or the European countries, although the problems in these countries are by far not so tremendous and apparent. Who does not know Harlem in New York? Everybody knows that there are bad living conditions. But what are the problems of the people living in Harlem compared with the problems of the inhabitants of slums and squatter areas in the developing world.
To cite Tipple/Willis (1991: 1) once more:
"The major housing problem is the shortage of affordable accommodation for the urban poor; the low-income majority".
There have been many official housing programs to provide more housing possibilities or to improve the existing housings - especially in the countries of the Third World -, but none of them have been successful at all. All these programs were unable to provide enough dwellings; the history of housing construction programs has shown that all measures need substantial resources, cities often do not have.
This paper wants to show the problems concerning housing the urban poor in the developing world and why these problems arise. After this more general introduction I will concentrate upon squatter-settlements in the Third World. Within this part I will point out some of the housing programs, which were used to solve the immense problems with housing the poor in the mega-cities.
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Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- General problems with the housing of the urban poor
- Migration to cities
- Social differences
- The urban land market
- The urban housing market
- Different nations, different names for the same problem
- United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT)
- The squatter-settlements of Third World countries
- What are squatter-settlements?
- Common characteristics of squatters and squatter areas all over the world
- The advantages of squatter-settlements
- The organisation of squatter areas
- Why governments do not like squatter-settlements
- Possible solutions to the problems of urban squatter areas
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the challenges of housing the urban poor in the developing world, focusing on the particular case of squatter settlements. It examines the various factors contributing to the growing need for affordable housing in mega-cities and the difficulties faced by governments in addressing this problem.
- The rapid growth of urban populations in the developing world due to natural increase and rural migration
- The role of poverty and social inequality in creating a shortage of affordable housing
- The challenges posed by the urban land market and the lack of security of tenure for the urban poor
- The characteristics and organization of squatter settlements
- The efforts of governments to provide housing for the urban poor and the challenges they face
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with a discussion of the challenges of housing the urban poor in the developing world. It highlights the rapid growth of urban populations, the shortage of affordable housing, and the increasing social and economic disparities. The paper then examines the reasons for rural migration to cities, including population pressure, lack of resources, and the perceived better opportunities in urban areas. It also discusses the impact of poverty and social segregation on housing conditions, with a focus on the emergence of slums and squatter settlements.
The paper then shifts its focus to the specific characteristics of squatter settlements in the Third World. It provides a detailed description of the various types of settlements and the challenges faced by their inhabitants. The paper also explores the advantages of living in squatter settlements, such as community solidarity and the potential for self-improvement.
Finally, the paper explores the efforts of governments to address the problem of housing the urban poor. It examines the various housing programs that have been implemented and the challenges they face in providing adequate and affordable housing for the growing urban population.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the key concepts of urban poverty, housing shortage, squatter settlements, rural migration, social inequality, and housing programs in developing countries. It examines the complex interplay of these factors in shaping the housing conditions of the urban poor and highlights the challenges faced by governments in providing affordable and adequate housing solutions.
- Quote paper
- Marc Landherr (Author), 2001, Housing the urban poor in the mega-cities of the developing world, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/6400
