Chap 3: Housing
Issue
Causes
Impacts
Measures
Housing shortage
Characteristics
Lack of basic services
Lack of safe shelter
Lack of infrastructure like power lines, water pipes: results in lack of water, sanitary waste disposal, toilets, poor living conditions
Houses in slums have to be made of poor quality materials (eg zinc, cardboard), therefore they are vulnerable to natural disasters
Houses built close to each other: difficult to evacuate in time, or for help to reach residents in time
Houses in slums built on unstable land: thus vulnerable to landslides etc
Without shelter, people are not protected from weather: can result in them suffering in strong winds and cold weathers
Rapid population growth: Increase in people, therefore demand increases, yet supply cannot meet
High birth rate: Increase in number of families, increase in number of offspring, therefore increase demand while supply stays constant or decreases
Migration: Increased number of people moving into cities from rural areas (rural-urban migration) therefore increase demand, yet constant supply
Push factors: Poor education facilities, lack of medical attention, lack of job opportunities, famine, war
Limited land supply: There may be small amount of land actually suitable for housing purposes due to physical features of the land (eg steep slopes, mountains, seas)
Competing land uses: Land used for one purpose cannot be used for another, and conflicts may arise when different groups of people wish to use the same land for different purposes
Pull factors: Better job opportunities, better schooling and further education, more hospitals and doctors, political stability, perception of city life
Homelessness: lack of proper shelter and carry out basic activities (eg bathing)
Slums and squatter settlements
Environmental pollution: Due to poor waste disposal systems and lack of amenities, people may use the rivers to wash, bathe in and dispose waste in (hence causing water pollution) or dispose of their waste in open drains, leaving behind an eyesore and a foul smell
Can cause people to suffer from poor health, respiratory problems, skin infections, stress disorders (due to exposure to harsh weather conditions, hunger, lack of sleep)
Low levels of health: As the water may be polluted, when residents drink that water, they may contract disease such as dysentery and cholera from the bacteria in the water. The residents dispose of their waste in open drains, causing stagnant water to collect and breed mosquitoes, transmitting disease like dengue fever and malaria between the residents
Vulnerability: to being evicted (as the slums are built on land illegally, the residents may be forced to move out if the land has to be used for other purposes) and to natural disasters (as the slums are situated on steep slopes), which can result in injury, loss of property, or death
Managing housing shortage
Inclusive housing
Affordable housing: Through the implementation of financial schemes, more people can afford homes of different type aimed at different audiences (eg 3-rm for small families, studio apartments for senior citizens)
Facilities and amenities for all ages: By including 3-G amenities (like playground, fitness corners), the needs of residents of all ages are met. Senior activity centres and ensuring the corridors can allow mobility aids through cater to multi-generational families' needs
Strong sense of place and belonging: By creating unique characteristics in each district, a sense of belonging is developed among residents
Providing public housing: More reasonably priced units available for people to buy (as compared to private housing)
Improving slums and squatter settlements: Through self-help schemes, where basic infrastructure and financial assistance is provided to the residents, the residents can improve their houses at their own pace. The residents may also be asked to move out from the slums temporarily if they are not the one improving the slum
+: Can be developed to be more comprehensive to respond to needs of household types
-: Difficult to monitor all the different housing options
+: Can be carried out in phases
+: Residents can continue to stay there while slums improve, working at their own pace
-: As residents can only work on the houses in their free time, rate of construction may be slower
-: Training needs to be provided to the residents to equip them with skills to improve the homes
Location
Common factors
Along major transport routes: residents can make use of the transport system easily
Edge of cities
City centre / industrial area: in order to find work easily