Inclusive planning and housing

July 2014 — Millions of poor people in cities of the Global South live in informal settlements with low-quality living conditions, due in large part to the lack of affordable and adequate housing. Policies are needed to regulate, support, and provide incentives for the development of affordable housing in both the private and the public sectors. In addition, such housing must be inclusive by design, so that the urban poor are integrated into local communities rather than being marginalized by income and class.

Follow this topic here during the month of July to see and discuss reports from the 23 cities in the URB.im network about efforts by governments, NGOs, and communities to make inclusive housing a reality — and please share your thoughts in the comments below.

ENGLISH

Housing initiatives for workers in the growing ready-made garments sector

Dhaka, 29 July 2014 — In order to address the problem of housing for ready-made garment workers who frequently relocate to Dhaka from more suburban or rural areas, several NGOs are creating hostels and other housing initiatives to raise the quality of life for this expanding population. See more.

ENGLISH

Housing initiatives for workers in the growing ready-made garments sector

Raiya Kishwar Ashraf, Dhaka Community Manager

UNDP reports that about 70 percent of Dhaka's population lives on just 20 percent of its land. This leads to the massive generation of informal settlements by the urban poor. However, while studies show that 80 percent of all slums and informal settlements are over 20 years old, little has been done policy-wise to address this issue. The garments industry in Bangladesh employs about 1.8 million people who make up almost half of its industrial workforce, and a significant number are clustered in and around the capital, Dhaka. The ready-made garments industry is growing and the low-paid garment workers continue to flock to the city, finding accommodation in slums and private housing, which lack the security and quality to maintain a good life.

Several NGOs are involved in providing services and aid to slum dwellers and the urban poor, and in many cases NGO pressure and organization have driven government action for this population. Access to government services remains a challenge for the urban poor. Ninety percent of the garments workers are women and girls, and this is where organizations such as Nari Uddog Kendra (NUK) or Centre for Women Initiatives step in to bridge the gap. Conforming to ILO Conventions, NUK started their Garment Factory and Workers Support Program in 1991 with the aim of providing training and assistance to garment factories and related policymakers that would set the groundwork for better working and living conditions for all garment workers.

NUK advocates better and safer conditions for workers in factories and the business as a whole, so there was a need to explore the living conditions and safety of these workers. As a model for future change and to set an example for similar projects proposed to garments companies and the government, NUK opened a Women Workers' Hostel in central Dhaka's Mohakhali area, close to several garment factories. This first three-storied hostel houses 84 workers and has communal cooking facilities. The workers ensure the upkeep of the hostel while one manager, one teacher, one guard, and one cook provide all the supporting facilities. The center provides safe housing for a third of the price the workers would have paid at a private rental. This also helps develop community learning and a healthy environment for the young girls and women, who spend most of their day in challenging working conditions.

Currently NUK operates hostels at three locations across the city and houses about 300 women. They plan to expand the project to several six-floor buildings — the first two floors of which could be rented out to shops, stores, and other commercial facilities that would help to sustain the hostel financially. NUK ensure that these hostels maintain optimal quality for the workers and are close to the garments factories. They wish to encourage further development of such facilities through the factories themselves, rather than through third parties.

This model of living-workplace proximity could be further used by the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) to push for further decentralization from the capital city. With the factories and workers' housing located in the suburbs or in less developed cities, costs and expenses could be reduced for both the factory owners and their workers — leading to more systematized and inclusive planning opportunities for the capital city.

NUK promotes and has implemented several programs that provide the support and advocacy the garments industry needs in improving the lives of its workers and sustaining healthy growth in the future. As part of its continuing efforts to improve the lives of the urban poor, the NGO also provides basic healthcare services to workers in about 100 factories across Dhaka. Close.

Photo: Taslima Akhter

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ARABIC

ENGLISH

تأمين سكن للفقراء في القاهرة...هل هناك مخرج للأزمة؟

Cairo, 28 July 2014 — عندما نتحدث عن أزمة سكن الفقراء، فإن مشروع أشوكا الوطن العربي ساهم في حل تلك الأزمة إلى حد ما في مدينة القاهرة عن طريق استحداث منصة تمد المستفيدين بخدمات البناء والمواد السكنية والقروض الصغيرة في إطار مشروع المؤسسة -"منزل للجميع" إقرء المزيد

ARABIC

ENGLISH

تأمين سكن للفقراء في القاهرة...هل هناك مخرج للأزمة؟

Shaima Abulhajj, Cairo Community Manager

المشكلات السكنية في مصر – الوضع الحالي:

بالحديث عن أزمة السكن في القاهرة، فإن مصر تعاني من وضع خاص حيث تصل المشكلة لمستويات متردية، حيث أن 3 من أصل أسوء 30 حي فقير في العالم تقع في القاهرة و45 بالمائة من المصريين يعيشون في أحياء فقيرة ذات ظروف صحية سيئة. يٌذكر أن هناك حوالي 8 مليون ساكن في الأحياء الفقيرة في القاهرة الكبرى، كما أن حوالي 70 بالمائة من سكان المدينة يعيشون في أماكن غير مؤهلة أو مستعمرات يطلق عليها اسم "عشوائيات".

حلول فعالة على أرض الواقع:

هناك رأي تبناه العديد من العلماء يفيد بأن السكن غير الرسمي يعتبر في الواقع حل لتوفير المساكن للفقراء في القاهرة. بعض المنظمات غير الحكومية مثل أشوكا الوطن العربي طرحت أفكارا مثل مبادرة سكن للجميع (HFA) التي تهدف لتحسين القوة الشرائية للفقراء ومن ثم يتمكنون من الحصول على منازل أكثر أمانا ونظافة وبمستوى أفضل. كما قامت مؤسسات أخرى بطرح حلول أخرى مثل مؤسسة هابيتات الدولية من أجل الإنسانية وإتحاد المدن والتي تهدف مشروعاتهما لخلق منازل منخفضة التكلفة للفقراء.

إنطلقت مبادرة أشوكا المذكورة في مصر تحت اسم "الدوار" والذي يعني المنزل. وتعتبر المبادرة من أفضل وأكثر الحلول فعالية لمعضلة السكن في البلاد، حيث أن استراتيجية "سكن للجميع" في مصر تقوم على مفهوم أن السكن يتعدى فقط المنازل وأماكن العيش. وتحفز المبادرة التنمية المجتمعية كما تدعم ملكية المنازل بصورة غير مسبوقة بما يتمثل في توفير أماكن سكن أفضل وأكثر صحة واستدامة. ولدى المبادرة شراكات معززة مع العديد من الجمعيات الأهلية المحلية والمؤسسات المجتمعية الشعبية والجامعات والقطاع الخاص فضلا عن الأجهزة الحكومي، وذلك بغية تنفيذ منازل منخفضة التكلفة من خلال مراكز خاصة تربط بين مؤسسات القروض الصغيرة القائمة بالفعل والبنوك المحلية والمواطنون المحرومين من المنازل. وتتألف خطة عملها من أنشطة رئيسية فعالة مثل توفير مواد البناء للأشخاص المحتاجين وتعزيز إمكانية الوصول للقروض الصغيرة للمنازل والمساعدة الفنية من خلال شركاء المشروع.

وفي سياق متصل، أسست الحكومة "بنك التعمير والإسكان" الذي يعمل جنبا إلى جنب مع مبادرة أشوكا "سكن للجميع" لكي يوفر قروضا للشباب الذين يستطيعون دفع مبلغ مالي محدود شهريا لوحداتهم المنزلية الاقتصادية في المدن الجديدة.

المزيد من الخطط لمشكلة السكن في مصر:

شرعت الحكومة بالفعل في الاستثمار في برامج سكن الشباب التي تهدف إلى توفير مليون وحدة سكنية للمواطنين ذوي الدخل المنخفض في القاهرة.

وفي عام 1990، قامت الحكومة ببناء أكثر من سبعة آلاف وحدة سكنية اقتصادية جديدة وتوسعت في التخطيط السكني لمناطق صحراوية حول القاهرة. فلدينا الآن مباني سكنية لشقق اقتصادية في العديد من المدن المطورة حول العاصمة، مثل مدينة 6 أكتوبر –القريبة من الجيزة- ومدينة السادات والقاهرة الجديدة.

وعلاوة على ذلك، فإن العديد من المنظمات الدولية مثل المعونة الأمريكية بالقاهرة وهيئة المعونة الأمريكية مدت يد المساعدة في العديد من المشروعات السكنية، وساعدت الحكومة في مساعيها بتقديم الدعم المالي والفني لإنشاء مناطق حضرية جديدة.

وعلى الرغم من أن تلك الإنجازات تبدو ناجحة وتعد بإحراز بالمزيد من التقدم على المستوى المحلي، إلا أن أي استراتيجية لحل مشكلة الإسكان يجب أن يصاحبها خطة تنمية شاملة دقيقة تركز على خلق فرص عمل لتمكن الناس من العيش في منازل لائقة، وكذلك إجراءات صارمة لتنظيم الأسرة من أجل خفض عدد السكان في الدولة.

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Photo: Mohammed Shamma

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BAHASA INDONESIA

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Tantangan pengembangan rumah susun bagi masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah

Jakarta, 27 Juli 2014 — Pemerintah Jakarta bertanggung jawab dalam penyediaan rumah susun bagi masyarakat miskin perkotaan. Tantangan utamanya adalah bagaimana menggandeng pihak developer dan pada saaat yang sama memberikan sanksi bagi mereka yang melangar. Penegakan hukum dan partisipasi aktif masyarakat dalam proses pembangunan membantu transparansi dan akuntabilitas kegiatan pembangunan. Baca lebih lanjut.

BAHASA INDONESIA

ENGLISH

Tantangan pengembangan rumah susun bagi masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah

Widya Anggraini, Jakarta Community Manager

Jumlah penduduk miskin Jakarta tahun 2013 mencapai 354,19 ribu dimana sebagian besar mereka menghuni daerah-daerah kumuh tanpa rumah yang layak. Pembangunan rumah susun sederhana merupakan salah satu upaya pemerintah untuk menanggulangi ketidakmampuan masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah (MBR) agar mendapat rumah layak huni. Namun demikian dalam perkembangannya penyediaan rumah susun (rusun) menemui banyak kendala, salah satunya adalah penyimpangan dalam ijin yang dimanfaatkan oleh segelintir orang untuk kepentingan investasi. Dalam hal penyediaan rumah murah sebenarnya pemerintah dapat mengusahakannya sendiri melalui Kementerian Perumahan Rakyat maupun menggandeng pihak swasta dengan kebijakan hunian berimbang. Namun yang kini banyak terjadi adalah banyak pengembang menyuap kepada pemerintah untuk mendapat ijin membangun hunian dan menyalahgunakannya. Selain itu political will pemerintah dalam membangun perumahan murah bagi MBR masih kurang karena hingga kini diperkirakan terdapat persoalan kurangnya pasokan rumah murah. Penegakan hukum dan partsisipasi masyarakat menjadi kunci dalam membantu kepastian tersedianya rumah murah bagi MBR.

Terkait banyaknya pengembang nakal, Menteri Perumahan Rakyat menyampaikan bahwa kini banyak ditemui pengembang properti yang mengabaikan kebijakan hunian berimbang yang mewajibkan pengembang untuk membangun rumah dengan komposisi 1:2:3, yaitu membangun satu rumah mewah, dua rumah menengah, dan tiga rumah murah. Dengan maraknya pembangunan perumahan di Jakarta, maka seharusnya pengembang dapat membantu menyediakan rumah murah sesuai amanat undang-undang. Namun dalam kenyataannya pengembang kerap mengabaikan peraturan ini. Selain itu penyalahgunaan ijin pembangunan rumah juga kerap terjadi di Jakarta. Banyak pembangunan rumah susun selama ini tidak tepat sasaran sebab banyak rusun yang seharusnya ditempati oleh masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah (MBR) justru dihuni oleh masyarakat menengah keatas.

Pemerintah DKI Jakarta dalam hal ini kini mulai tegas. Salah satu gebrakan yang dilakukan oleh Wakil DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, adalah melakukan sweeping identitas kepada penghuni rusunawa. Penghuni rusun haruslah beridentitas sebagai warga Jakarta dan berpenghasilan dibawah Rp. 4,5 juta. Jika ditemukan yang berpenghasilan diatas Rp. 4,5 juta maka akan segera diusir. Sementara itu untuk pengembang nakal yang menyalahgunakan ijin akan mendapatkan sanksi pidana denda maupun pidana penjara sebagaimana diatur pada Undang-undang No 1/2011 tentang Perumahan dan Pemukiman.

Peran masyarakat juga sangat diharapkan dalam mengawasi pembangunan perumahan rakyat. Selama ini seperti yang terjadi di rusunawa Marunda, Jakarta Utara, warga secara aktif menyampaikan informasi jika terdapat pelanggaran dalam proses pembangunan ruman susun. Selain itu masyarakat juga diharapkan melapor jika mendapati transaksi bawah tangan yang dilakukan oknum terkait serta melaporkan pengembang kepada pemerintah jika tidak terdapat fasilitas umum yang menjadi keharusan dalam membangun rumah susun tersebut. Peran serta masyarakat dalam mengawasi pembangunan dan ikut melaporkan telah membantu dalam transparansi pelaksanaan pembangunan dan diharapkan akan tersedia lebih banyak rumah murah bagi warga miskin dengan pendekatan yang sama. Close.

Foto: Indra Sarathan

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ENGLISH

The market at the bottom of the housing pyramid

Bangalore, 25 July 2014 — Like many Indian cities, Bangalore is in dire need of new housing options to meet the needs of its working poor. With an increasing ability to pay and new financing approaches available, families residing in slums have the means to pay for better conditions, yet few alternatives exist. Ramesh Ramanathan launched an affordable housing initiative to fill this growing gap, but found many unexpected barriers along the way. See more.

ENGLISH

The market at the bottom of the housing pyramid

Carlin Carr, Bangalore Community Manager

Lack of affordable housing across urban India has left the working poor in a fix: they have the ability to pay for better conditions but few options exist. In Bangalore there are more than 400,000 in 557 slums, many of whom are the city's maids, rickshaw drivers, security guards, drivers, and small shop owners. In 2010, Ramesh Ramanathan, co-founder of Janaagraha, an NGO focused on urban governance in Bangalore, launched a low-cost housing venture, Janaadhar, to take a small step toward filling an ever-growing affordable housing gap.

Until recently, India's developers have focused on a higher-end market. Yet what's becoming increasingly clear is there is an opportunity for a socially relevant movement that will also reap financial rewards. "Till now an opportunity worth Rs 5 lakh crore [USD$83.2 billion] or more, equal to around 5 percent of GDP, is largely going begging. This is because India's builders mostly aim for buyers who can afford homes worth Rs 25 lakh [USD$41,000] or more and constantly seek to add frills to claim premium value and earn higher margins. Overall, the Indian system and its property developers, with some exceptions, are missing out on enormous wealth lying at the bottom of the housing pyramid," says an article on the initiative.

Janaadhar's first phase focused on 480 one-bedroom apartments that were all 400-square-feet in size and built in a cluster development just on the outskirts of the city. The goal in serving the "blue collar" workers of Bangalore was to price the flats below Rs 5 lakh [USD$8300] for families earning a monthly income of approximately Rs 15,000 [USD$250]. In the end, the houses were priced at nearly 50 percent more at Rs 7.3 lakh [USD$12,000], now pricing out the target households.

While there is a huge market and more financial services in place to help these households, institutional roadblocks have limited the ability of private sector housing initiatives. Ramanthan says it took nearly three years to get through the nine agencies that sanction building plans. He believes this bureaucratic confusion is a major deterrent and time spent chasing paperwork adds up to time and money lost. Also, there are many government-issued levies that drastically added to the building costs, which in turn increased the price point.

But Ramanathan cites another key miscalculation he will reconsider in his next venture: the inability of the target group to cover their current household expenditures as well as the monthly financing payments (Rs 4,000 – 5,000 [USD$66-$83]). "A middle class family can pay an EMI [estimated monthly installment] and pay their rent during the transition period, until their new home is complete. For families earning Rs 12,000 [USD$200] per month, this is very difficult," says Ramanathan in the Business Standard.

Janaadhar will move forward with its mission, but the next phase will focus on 300-square-foot homes, reducing the cost by 25 percent since building material prices had also increased during the course of the project. Another hopeful sign is that more private sector initiatives have since entered the market. Since housing is often seen as a catalyst for improving other areas of life, the potential for success in this area goes much beyond a roof over a family's head. The safety and security of homeownership could lead to children staying in school longer and overall improved family health. Affordable housing has wide-reaching social implications that will be seen as more ventures enter the arena. Close.

Photo: seaview99

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ESPAÑOL

ENGLISH

Ciudad Verde: riesgos de los macro proyectos en Bogotá

Bogotá, 24 julio 2014 — Los macro proyectos se concibieron como una forma de aliviar los problemas de vivienda entre las familias con menos recursos. Las economías de escala y el marco regulatorio que facilitaba su construcción eran señalados como sus ventajas. La falta se servicios públicos y de infraestructura están plagando su implementación. Leer más.

ESPAÑOL

ENGLISH

Ciudad Verde: riesgos de los macro proyectos en Bogotá

Jorge Bela, Gestor Comunitario de Bogotá

Los macro proyectos nacieron en 2007 como una forma de resolver los graves problemas de vivienda existentes en Colombia, especialmente entre las familias con menores ingresos. El propósito de la ley, reformada en 2011, era crear el marco administrativo y urbanístico que permitieran a las empresas privadas el desarrollo de grandes núcleos de viviendas. Se buscaba que les economías de escala permitieran reducir los costos, y por tanto los precios finales de las unidades. También se abría la puerta para que se cometieran los proyectos al margen de los planes de ordenación urbana que en muchas ocasiones los hubieran hecho imposible.

Ciudad Verde es uno de los macro proyectos creados dentro de este marco. Está ubicado en Soacha, una población adyacente a Bogotá. Su tamaño es masivo: un total de 49.500 viviendas, 57 hectáreas destinadas a espacios públicos y parques, y área industrial de 20 hectáreas. La totalidad de las viviendas son consideradas de Interés Social, y están por tanto reservadas para las personas con menores recursos. Éstas podrán acceder a la compra mediante subvenciones, como las que se asignan a familias con ingresos menores a dos salarios mínimos y que hayan logrado ahorrar dos millones COP (unos 1.000US$). También se asignarán, mediante programas especiales, viviendas a personas en situación de emergencia, como las 768 unidades reservadas a los damnificados por las inundaciones del periodo 2010-2011. En total mas de 200.000 personas vivirán en Ciudad Verde.

Aunque las intenciones de este modelo son las mejores, su implementación está dando lugar a muchos problemas. En la actualidad ya hay mas de 15.000 viviendas entregadas y mas de 10.000 en ejecución. Un estudio recientemente realizado por la Universidad del Rosario pone de manifiesto que los receptores de las viviendas demuestran un elevado grado de satisfacción ante la propiedad de su vivienda, pero muestran un elevado grado de insatisfacción con la falta de equipamientos sociales y de infraestructura, especialmente transporte.

En efecto, aunque los contratistas privados han cumplido con sus obligaciones de construcción y urbanización, el suministro de los servicios públicos quedan a cargo de la municipalidad. Esto supone una sobrecarga inasumible para Soacha, que tenía una población de 400.000 habitantes antes de la construcción del Ciudad Verde. El incremento en un 50 por ciento en un plazo muy corto ha sido inasumible. Tan solo hay un colegio, y otro en construcción. También hay deficiencias en los servicios de salud. El BRT de Bogotá no llega hasta el desarrollo, lo que supone un gravísimo problema para sus habitantes, la mayoría de los cuales tienen que desplazarse hacia Bogotá para trabajar.

Si bien los macro proyectos pueden ser una vía de solución para los graves problemas de vivienda en Bogotá, su modelo de implementación debe ser revisado. Las necesidades de transporte público deben estar previstas, así como las infraestructuras necesarias para una incremento de la población tan sustancial y rápido. De otra forma se generarán guetos segregados del resto de la ciudad y de sus actividades económicas y sociales. Close.

Photo credit: Amarilo

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PORTUGUÊS

ENGLISH

Novo Plano Diretor de São Paulo: a necessidade de aumentar a qualidade de vida de todos os cidadãos

São Paulo, 23 julho 2014 — São Paulo está no processo de aprovação do seu novo Plano Diretor Estratégico, que irá determinar as novas diretrizes urbanísticas da cidade até 2030. O plano tem como principal proposta equalizar o acesso a oportunidades na cidade e o desafio de reduzir o déficit habitacional de 700 mil moradias. Leia mais.

PORTUGUÊS

ENGLISH

Novo Plano Diretor de São Paulo: a necessidade de aumentar a qualidade de vida de todos os cidadãos

Carla Link, Coordenadora da Rede em São Paulo

São Paulo é conhecida por sua urbanização caótica e desigual, que a torna um dos lugares mais congestionados do mundo. A difícil tarefa de se locomover pela cidade é diretamente relacionado ao crescimento habitacional desordenado, que vem favorecendo o mercado imobiliário de alto padrão — com seus condomínios fechados, apartamentos espaçosos, muitas vagas de garagem e estruturas de lazer completas nas áreas centrais da cidade; que por seu alto custo vai empurrando as classes mais baixas para áreas periféricas. Ao mesmo tempo, a cidade possui um déficit habitacional de 700 mil moradias, que incluem ocupações irregulares sem estrutura social ou sanitária.

O novo Plano Diretor Estratégico (PDE) da cidade de São Paulo, que foi aprovado pela Câmara Municipal e já está caminhando para aprovação do Prefeito Fernando Haddad, tem a responsabilidade de resolver esses problemas e criar soluções mais eficientes para a maior cidade brasileira. A vigência do último PDE expirou em 2012 e desde o ano passado está em processo de desenvolvimento, incluindo oficinas participativas e audiências públicas. O Plano aprovado se tornará a lei que determinará o conjunto de diretrizes urbanísticas para a cidade nos próximos 16 anos.

O plano tem como principal proposta equalizar o acesso a oportunidades na cidade — aproximando os moradores das áreas com empregos, lazer e serviços, aumentando a qualidade de vida dos paulistanos e diminuindo as distâncias por eles percorridas ao longo do dia. Para isso, áreas próximas às redes de transporte público, como metrôs, trens e terminais de ônibus, poderão receber empreendimentos maiores, porém com limitações importantes — como a área máxima de cada apartamento (80 m²), apenas uma vaga de garagem e dando vantagens para condomínios com usos mistos. Na visão dos parlamentares, essa medida irá direcionar o adensamento nas áreas com maior estrutura e incentivar o uso do transporte público.

A outra importante medida é a expansão das ZEIS — Zonas Especiais de Interesse social, aumentando de 17,2 km² para 37 km² o número de áreas exclusivas para habitação popular e priorizando famílias com renda de até 3 salários mínimos. Uma das propostas iniciais do PDE era criar essas zonas em bairros centrais da cidade, principalmente em áreas subutilizadas ou abandonas. Porém, apesar disso ter sido considerado, a maioria da Zeis continuam em regiões periféricas, que receberão incentivos e melhorias estruturais. O Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto (MTST), que estava acompanhando de perto todo o processo, comemorou a medida que obriga que 10 por cento do valor de construções acima de 20 mil m² sejam destinados para construção de habitação popular.

Ainda é cedo para medir o impacto que o novo PDE terá sobre o crescimento de São Paulo. Alguns críticos ao plano esperavam propostas ainda mais inclusivas e maiores limitações ao mercado imobiliário. Outro problema percebido é a alta expectativa que o já superlotado transporte público seja mais atrativo que o carro para os paulistanos. Mas uma coisa é certa: a cidade precisa de mudanças para se tornar um lugar mais justo e inclusivo, e isso não será possível sem o apoio dos cidadãos e do setor imobiliário. Close.

Foto: Secretaria Municipal de Desenvolvimento Urbano

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ENGLISH

Housing the (radical) everyday

Cape Town, 22 July 2014 — Unlike the fall of regimes in many other parts of the world, with the fall of apartheid South Africans chose a very specific and unusual path to reconciliation, "that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united." But to what extent has post-apartheid housing facilitated this inclusive vision? See more.

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Housing the (radical) everyday

Tariq Toffa, Cape Town Community Manager

With the fall of apartheid, South Africans chose a very specific and unusual path to reconciliation. There were no large-scale erasures or symbolic removals of statues as witnessed with the fall of regimes in other parts of the world. This idea was built into the very fabric of the new constitution: "We, the people of South Africa ... believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity."

But how were South Africans now to "live in it, united," and to what extent have newly created post-apartheid spaces facilitated this inclusive vision?

There are at least four key sites where this question of national unity has found diverse expression: (1) hosting major international sports tournaments (fig. 1); (2) building symbolic monuments to the struggle for freedom and humanity (fig. 2); and (3) themed, market-based private sector developments. Although these moments represent different kinds of post-apartheid spaces, the exceptional and the symbolic should not be misjudged for the ordinary living environments wherein people interact in their daily lives.

Housing, the fourth site, therefore has a critical role to play. However, social/racial integration is not an explicit policy goal, and the design of the scale of the neighborhood and human interaction still remains poorly understood and articulated. Moreover, government officials tend to interpret 'integration' largely in economic terms (accommodating lower income groups, development, and access to amenities). These oversights all do little to encourage new integrated social spaces and identities, with local meaning (as opposed to grand, national narratives).

The urban form of 'Social housing', for example, with its higher densities and potential to integrate rental accommodation for lower income groups within well-located areas, can potentially facilitate both physical and social integration. These concerns were important priorities in a recently completed social housing project in Cape Town, called Steen Villa (fig. 3, 4). The project consists of 700 units in two to three storey walk-ups, clustered in groups of 20-35 units around courtyard spaces. The courtyards were specifically designed for everyday activities and neighborliness (play, socializing, washing, etc.), and a degree of racial integration was also achieved with a tenant mix of approximately 60 percent colored, 39 percent black, and a small number of white and Indian residents. Still further initiatives taken for racial and tenant integration also included a 'Good Neighbor Charter', football and netball teams, a pensioners' club, Women's Day celebrations, a job placement program, and a neighborhood watch.

Balancing security requirements with open continuity in the urban fabric, the courtyards are able to be fully secured, while the streets were designed to be public and integrative. A large road reserve was also turned into a public park, and the units edging an adjacent train station was rezoned for future mixed-use potential. Although some of the initial positive intentions were not realized, the project is evidence that creative measures can be taken for (social, physical, and economic) cohesion and integration despite existing limitations of circumstances, (too often constraints are self-imposed).

In summary, apartheid was a spatial praxis. It aimed to radically shape everything in people's lives; from where one was born, schooled, lived, worked, married, and would be buried. Anti-apartheid activism was its counter, for many a cutting across of race groups that was learned in practice. In both instances the everyday was qualitatively articulated. Thus, change today cannot be left to the purview of theatre and spectacle alone, nor reduced to a provision of services. Real change begins at home, in the spaces of the radical everyday. Close.

Photo credits: Fig. 1: Rugby World Cup, 1995 (Ross Kinnaird, Empics). Fig. 2: Freedom Park, Pretoria (Clive Hassel). Fig 3-4: Steen Villa, Cape Town (Author).

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Vivienda como estrategia urbana

Caracas, 21 julio 2014 — Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela ha construido cerca de 25,000 viviendas en Caracas en los últimos tres años sin contemplar la necesidad de infraestructura, seguridad y espacios públicos en la ciudad. Se propone que la vivienda no debe ser entendida por si sola sino como una oportunidad de diseño urbano. Leer más.

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Vivienda como estrategia urbana

Ana Cristina Vargas, Gestor Comunitario de Caracas

Durante la primera mitad del siglo XX Caracas pasó de ser una pequeña ciudad agrícola a una capital moderna. Entre 1930 y 1980 obras de infraestructura masiva fomentaron el crecimiento urbano fragmentado y rápido de la ciudad. La construcción de vivienda pública ayudó a albergar a los inmigrantes del campo, pero este esfuerzo no fue suficiente y muchas personas se instalaron de manera informal en los cerros de la periferia de la ciudad. Hoy en día, se estima que más de la mitad de la población urbana vive en asentamientos informales, llamados "barrios", donde hay un déficit de infraestructura urbana básica; bandas violentas amenazan las vidas de gente inocente; y las viviendas están construidas en zonas de riesgo propensas a ser víctimas de inundaciones, derrumbes y sismos. Sin embargo, en esta parte fundamental de la ciudad, con pocos recursos se han construido miles viviendas que permiten la subsistencia de la ciudad. El caso de Caracas es similar a la mayoría de las principales ciudades del país. Tomando en cuenta que 94 por ciento de la población de Venezuela vive en zonas urbanas, el gran reto que tiene el país no es solo resolver la insuficiencia de oferta de vivienda, sino la necesidad urgente del desarrollo urbano tanto en la ciudad informal como en la ciudad formal.

En 2011, después de una temporada prolongada de fuertes lluvias en Caracas, que dejó más de 130.000 personas sin hogar, el gobierno nacional lanzó el programa "Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela" (GMMV), para ofrecer soluciones masivas de vivienda a las víctimas de las lluvias. El objetivo de este programa fue construir 2 millones de unidades de vivienda para el año 2017 a nivel nacional. Siendo una meta ambiciosa, ya que limita el tiempo para el diseño de la arquitectura, la construcción de buena calidad, y hacen que la planificación urbana haya quedado en un segundo plano. En este sentido, el único criterio para seleccionar las parcelas urbanas en las que se han desarrollado nuevos edificios de vivienda es el hecho de estar vacíos y que puedan ser fácilmente expropiados. Pareciera, que no se han considerado los medios de subsistencia de la familia, la zonificación y planes urbanos o la infraestructura disponible para la densificación masiva de la ciudad. En Caracas, 26,427 han sido entregadas según cifras del gobierno. Los apartamentos de vivienda que se han construido ofrecen un catálogo diverso de estilos de arquitectura, pero su diseño no responde al clima tropical, a las variables urbanas o incluye servicios compartidos

Durante el gobierno de Chávez se colocaron en marcha diversos programas de vivienda; GMMV ha sido el más ambicioso y el que ha tenido mayor impacto. El inconveniente es que la vivienda es vista como una solución a una emergencia y no como no como oportunidad para urbanizar el país. La vivienda debe ser entendida como parte de un plan urbanístico, necesario para construir el tejido urbano de la ciudad. Por ejemplo, en 1945, se construyó en el centro de Caracas, la "Reurbanización El Silencio" para proporcionar viviendas de bajo costo, así como infraestructura, áreas recreativas y comerciales. Este proyecto de diseño urbano contempla edificios de apartamentos organizados en macro bloques donde la gente puede disfrutar de patios comunes y apartamentos con ventilación cruzada. Además de proporcionar una fachada continua con actividades comerciales que ayudan a darle vida urbana al sector. Después de 70 años, esta es una parte esencial y vibrante de la ciudad, y no simplemente una solución de vivienda. Es entonces cuando debemos pensar en la vivienda como estrategia de urbanización esencial para la construcción de ciudades sostenibles. Close.

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The illusion of urban renewal and the magicians' ghetto

Delhi, 20 July 2014 — Is 'unlocking the value of land' — the rationale behind urban renewal schemes — an illusion in itself? The elite urbanists who want to render the spatial morphology of Delhi with the appearance of progress are struggling in the face of opposition from residents of urban renewal sites such as Kathputli Colony. See more.

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The illusion of urban renewal and the magicians' ghetto

Priyanka Jain, Delhi Community Manager

In the late 1960s, a group of itinerant puppeteers from Rajasthan were allowed by the then government to live in makeshift tents on the outskirts of Delhi. Today, this settlement is called Kathputli (Puppet) Colony after those first settlers, and houses hundreds of artists. The folk artists — magicians, snake charmers, fire-breathers, and myriad conjurers of everyday spectacle — are representatives of India's rich cultural achievements at international meetings and reception galas in foreign consulates. But the residents of the magicians' ghetto — immortalized in fiction by Salman Rushdie's portrait in Midnight's Children — live in imminent fear of eviction in their own city.

Kathputli Colony is among the first of the in-situ rehabilitation projects announced in Delhi Master Plan 2021 under the national housing policy called Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY). According to the DDA's plan, the current residents of the settlement would be temporarily relocated to a transit camp for the duration of construction. Through a public-private partnership, the DDA would work with Raheja Developers Ltd. to provide 2,800 flats for slum families free of charge. For financial profit, Raheja will partner with Arabtec Construction LLC to build Delhi's first 'official' skyscraper. It is a 54-floor tower with a sky club and helipad with 170 premium apartments at more than 1,000 square feet each.

But five years after the project was launched, only 70 families have moved to the transit camp. The project stands at an impasse, as the resistance to development within the community is stronger than ever. There are several reasons for the lack of consent. First, the community argues that they weren't consulted for the development scheme. They don't want the proposed flats but just the land so that they can build more floors for the next generation. This will also enable them to use little roofs to practice their art and store their numerous props without disturbing their neighbors.

Second, the deep mistrust was exacerbated by a long history of official betrayals of slum dwellers. For instance, in order to qualify for a rehabilitation flat, a household needs valid proof of identity and residence (such as a ration card or voter's identity card). The initial cut-off date was announced to be 2002, but until January 2014 the date was extended thrice, from 2002 to 2007, and then to 2009. These changes in policy are certainly not minor details, as it would entail the exclusion or inclusion of a number of families in the rehousing scheme.

Despite the presence of pro-active local leaders or pradhans, cooperatives such as Bhule Bhisre Kalakar and NGOs such as Sarthi and Kalakar Trust, the local government has failed to bring the community together. Slum redevelopment under RAY was supposed to be more sensitive to the people being displaced — and was expected to set an example through practicing community participation. But the lack of transparency regarding the project implementation, as well as the lack of proper consultation procedure and involvement of the affected community, is a matter of concern.

The residents of Kathputli Colony are well versed in creating illusions with sleight of hand. But today they fight the desire of elite urbanites to magically disappear those residents and give the spatial morphology of Delhi the appearance of progress. To bridge the gap between reality and illusion in Kathputli Colony and other unauthorized settlements of post-colonial Delhi, the local government would have to implement the community participation, stipulated under RAY, in its full capacity. Close.

Photo credit: Harsha Vardhan Durugadda and Pooja Pant

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Mortgaging future social houses: a new hope for the urban poor

Ho Chi Minh City, 18 July 2014 — Starting on 16 June 2014, low-income earners in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam are allowed to mortgage their future social houses, according to Joint Circular 01/2014, a government initiative to overcome the "low purchase criteria, high loan conditions" dilemma that is preventing the urban poor from benefiting from social housing projects. See more.

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Mortgaging future social houses: a new hope for the urban poor

Tam Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City Community Manager

Starting on 16 June 2014, low-income earners in Ho Chi Minh City as well as other parts of Vietnam are officially allowed to mortgage their future social houses to buy the same house, according to the Joint Circular 01/2014. The newly issued Circular is regarded as a determined step to address the urban housing puzzle by the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments.

As of 2013, Ho Chi Minh City houses approximately 8 million people, 81,709 of whom are considered poor. These urban poor are living in 67,000 sub-standard houses built with makeshift materials that fall down and burn easily, and in 18,000 houses along stagnant canals.

Social houses, a government effort to tackle this issue, have been a disappointing promise for low-income families because of the conflict between low purchase criteria and high loan conditions. Depicting this irony, the Vietnam Journalists Association cites the typical story of Mr. H. T., a low-income earner in Ho Chi Minh City, and his struggle to buy a social house from the First Home developer. To meet the purchase criteria, Mr. T. had to submit to the developer documents confirming his low-income status with a monthly salary of no more than VND 4.5 million (USD$212). Ironically, for the bank to lend him the purchase money, Mr. T. was required to have a confirmed salary of at least VND 12 million (USD $566), which he managed to get only through a personal contact.

Similarly, many urban families hoping to own a social house have to make up two separate profiles, one proving that they are poor enough to be eligible for one, while another proving that they are rich enough to pay for it. Even though the government has issued an attention-grabbing credit package of VND 30,000 billion (USD $1.4 billion) with a low interest rate to assist the poor, banks still have to make lending decisions based on borrowers' ability to pay. Thus, the high loan conditions persist, and the credit package has not been able to show results.

Five collateral conditions

However, with this new mortgage initiative, once the purchase agreement is signed, the poor can use their future social houses as legal collateral, which allows banks to relax their income requirements. The new law is applicable for both commercial and social houses that fulfill the following five conditions:

The house to be mortgaged must have an approved technical design

The foundation construction must be completed

The sale and purchase contract is signed with the housing developer

The house is not undergoing any lawsuit, nor is it awaiting confiscation

Houses are also eligible for mortgage if they belong to projects granted certificates or land handover decisions by state agencies

Practically, while Joint Circular 01 is not to be regarded as the magic bullet for all housing problems, especially with the complexity of bureaucratic procedures in Vietnam, it is expected to utilize more efficiently the VND 30,000 billion credit package, and help more low-income families to settle in their own homes. The task left to do now is to derive thorough yet simple mortgage procedures so that future loans benefit the right people. Close.

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BAHASA INDONESIA

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Partisipasi dan pembangunan kembali rusunawa

Surabaya, 17 Juli 2014 — Pembenagunan rusunawa telah dilakukan oleh Pemkot Surabaya untuk menjawab kekurangan rumah murah bagi masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah, namun tampaknya kita melupakan bahwa banyak permasalahan muncul ketika mereka mulai menempati rusunawa. Pembangunan kembali dengan konsep re-development dan pemberdayaan masyarakat di daerah kumuh bisa menjadi jawabannya. Baca lebih lanjut.

BAHASA INDONESIA

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Partisipasi dan pembangunan kembali rusunawa

Widya Anggraini, Surabaya Community Manager

Surabaya merupakan kota Metropolitan terbesar kedua di Indonesia yang memiliki magnet penarik bagi penduduk daerah penyangga terutama wilayah perdesaan di sekitarnya. Seiring waktu, dengan makin bertambahnya jumlah penduduk alami dan pendatang maka Surabaya menjadi kota yang sangat padat dan bermunculanlah perkampungan kumuh dan kebutuhan untuk perumahan kian meningkat. Menurut data Pemkot Surabaya, kebutuhan lahan perumahan tahun 20013-2013 mencapai 17.593 Ha (53,8% dari total luas Surabaya) dengan jumlah kebutuhan permukiman mencapai 556.542 unit. Pembangunan rumah susun sebagai alternative hunian bagi masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah telah dilaksanakan oleh Pemkot Surabaya beberapa tahun terakhir. Namun demikin keberadaan rusun paska huni cenderung menjadi kumuh dan menambah kekumuhan lingkungan. Oleh karenanya terdapat dua kebijakan terkait yang kini dilaksanakan yaitu pembangunan kembali rusun dengan konsep re-development dan kerjasama dengan kementerian untuk pemberdayaan masyarakat di kampung kumuh.

Seringkali kebijakan pemberian rumah susun terhenti ketika pemerintah selesai membangun rumah tersebut, padahal banyak permasalahan muncul ketika mereka menghuni rusun. Beberapa permasalahan yang muncul seperti rusun menjadi kumuh karena kurangnya rasa memiliki yang berakibat tidak adaknya kesadaran untuk memelihara, kegaduhan, minimnya ruang privat dan adanya kesulitan merubah kebiasaan hidup dari rumah biasa (landed housing) ke rumah vertical atau rusun. Munculnya permaslahan ini sering tidak diantisipasi dan luput dari perhatian pemerintah padahal tujuan awal dari pembangunan rusun adalah untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup penghuni, namun kenyataannya banyak yang makin terpuruk.

Menghadapi tantangan tersebut Pemkot Surabaya kini melakukan perbaikan rusun yang bertujuan meningkatkan kualitas penghuni rusunawa dengan konsep re-development yang menekankan pada partisipasi penghuni, lokasi yang dekat dengan sumber penghidupan dan tetap mempertahankan struktur sosial yang sudah ada. Konsep redevelopment ini telah diterapkan di Rusun Urip Sumoharjo. Dalam proses re-design ini maka dilakukan pendekatan yang intensif untuk menggali aspirasi penghuni sebab mereka yang paling tahu apa yang mereka butuhkan dan apa yang sesuai dengan lingkungan mereka. Kegiatan ini memang diperuntukkan bagi penghuni lama dengan memperbaiki kondisi fisik bangunan dan meningkatkan fasilitas umum dan ruang terbuka bersama. Salah satu kelebihan dalam design rusunawa ini adalah gedung dibangun tidak model berjajar tapi dibuat setengah melingkar dengan ruang terbuka di tengah sebagai ruang bersama. Bentuk ini sendiri merupakan apa yang diinginkan warga dan terwujud dalam desainnya. Untuk selanjutnya redevelopment ini akan diaplikasikan untuk rusunawa lain di Kota Surabaya.

Kebijakan redevelopment ini sendiri akan dikombinasikan dengan program pemberdayaan masyarakat di kawasan permukiman kumuh untuk alasan kemandirian ekonomi dan kemampuan penataan daerahnya. Program ini bekerjasama dengan Badan Pertanahan Nasional yang memberikan penyuluhan mengenai pertanahan dan pentingnya legalisasi tanah dan pembentukan kelompok masyarakat sadar dan tertib pertanahan (Pokmasdartibnas). Dari berbagai sisi peran warga di daerah kumuh sangat didorong karena bentuk bantuan dan pendampingan tidak akan berhasil tanpa partisipasi aktif mereka. Close.

Foto: nesya anggi puspita

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ENGLISH

Community slum mapping — a housing solution?

Dar es Salaam, 16 July 2014 — When discussion turns to an 'inclusive' housing policy and planning in developing cities, the focus often turns to criticising slums and the current housing the poor call home. Within this article the focus shifts — what happens when we recognise slums as homes and a basis for inclusive urban planning? See more.

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Community slum mapping — a housing solution?

Gemma Todd, Dar es Salaam Community Manager

Across developing cities, we are presented with a picture of a housing shortage. In Tanzania, there is a 3 million-unit housing deficit, with an annual demand of 200,000 houses a year. What does this mean for Dar es Salaam, as statistics suggest a rising urban population?

A variety of strategies have been used across Dar es Salaam over time. Since the 1960s evictions have remained frequent. They articulate an attempt to gentrify urban space and build new houses. The 2006-7 Chamazi evictions are an example whereby 30,000 people were at risk of displacement, with a minority receiving compensation. In the 1970s policy shifted focus to 'site and service' methods, upgrading houses in-situ, a la- John Turner. Turner's thinking argued that effective housing requires a bottom-up approach; the poor need freedom to build. Tanzania's National Strategic Urban Planning Framework (1999) focused on upgrading un-serviced dwellings, with the Hanna Nassif Upgrading Project a product of such shifts. Today, the concern is on creating an enabling finance system through partnerships. Housing provision in Dar es Salaam is increasingly working with private funders to build new homes in designated areas, but also creating policies that provide the poor access to finance to buy into property markets. Fifty thousand houses are to be built by Watumishi Housing Company, made available to public servants at low-interest mortgage rates.

However, with new solutions we need to make distinctions between 'homes' and 'houses'. Are previous approaches creating homes for living; are new designs of quality? Questions are required as to whether the housing 'problem' and policy in Dar es Salaam is one of a lack of supply or recognition.

This piece focuses on these distinctions in Dar es Salaam, and an alternative solution introduced to resolve housing shortages — community slum mapping. Sixty-six percent of Tanzania's urban population lives in slums — characterised by a lack of services and security. Slum mapping raises an innovative solution — informal houses need to be recognised as homes. A strict differentiation is often made between formal-informal settlements, with a lack of the first identified. Therefore are slums a solution, and is including slums in Dar es Salaam formal housing a solution to the poor's exclusion? Within this, what is the role of slum mapping toward resolving the housing deficit and inclusive planning?

Mapping: Shifting towards homes and a picture of need

In Dar es Salaam the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI) and Tanzania Federation of the Urban Poor use mapping. These organisations have carried out enumerations across the city, and created a city slum profile. The enumerations act as a foundation for inclusive housing policy and provision for the poor. Firstly, the enumeration maps informal settlements, putting informal homes on the map and policy discussions. Secondly, providing insight on the poor's needs — where demand is high, where more houses are required, and where homes are preferred. As a result of enumeration, new housing projects are being implemented, security of tenure provided, and services upgraded in the city. Thirdly, enumeration is a resource for the poor to lobby for their rights and create an inclusive housing system. Enumeration enables a dialogue between service providers and users. Additionally, the profiles built can change perceptions. The term 'slum' derives negative connotations, with the discourse justifying forceful intervention and stigmatisation (see Gilbert, 2007).

Mapping can enable houses to be recognised as homes. Homes cannot be provided without enabling the poor a right to dwell. We cannot look at resolving housing without recognising the bigger picture. Close.

Photo credit: Wayan Vota

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ENGLISH

The city of Lagos' tenancy and home ownership schemes

Lagos, 15 July 2014 — Housing is a challenge in Lagos, especially for the urban poor, due to city density and high costs. This situation has led to the prominence of slum areas with megacity upgrades, resulting in slum demolition and homelessness. In response to this, the city has devised a scheme to provide Lagosians with homes. See more.

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The city of Lagos' tenancy and home ownership schemes

Olatawura Ladipo-Ajayi, Lagos Community Manager

Housing is a challenge for the poor in most urban centers, and in Lagos, a very densely populated area and center of economic activity, the situation is difficult. Availability of housing units is one issue, and affordability is another big one. The dearth of affordable accommodation, combined with ridiculous rent demands (such as security deposits of one to two full years of rent) have contributed to the swelling of slum settlements like Makoko and Badia. Their recent clearance and demolition has further contributed to the housing problem as residents become displaced.

In response to the challenges of finding affordable housing for the city's poor, the state has started with the provision of affordable housing settlements like Sangotedo, Shitta in Surulere, and Oba Adegoruwa in Ikorodu. This development is not the first attempt to provide social housing for the city's poor. Years ago the Jakande housing estates were built to address the same issues, and yet the issues still persist. The problem with the previous housing solutions lie in their planning, upkeep, and structure. There were reports from the housing units of uninhabitable conditions, frequent collapses, and loss of lives. In addition, these units were often located on the more expensive side of town, making the cost of living very high. The new attempt, however, takes into consideration many of the previously ignored factors.

In 2011, a rent control legislation called the Lagos Tenancy Law was passed to make rent more affordable and housing terms more fair. Amongst other things, the law makes it an offence for any agent to collect upfront payment of two year's worth of rent from tenants before letting them take up residence. In fact, it restricts payable rent deposit to six months for existing tenants, and a year for new ones. The tenancy law, coupled with the provision of better structured social housing units, aims to improve the housing situation of the city's poor. While it is a considerable effort, the program and projects have experienced setbacks as a result of lack of inclusiveness in the planning process. Observers report that despite the tenancy law, it is still business as usual in terms of the rental demands, which make the process difficult and expensive. Another problem is the access the poor actually have to the housing units. Most of the units are bought by the not-so-poor and then rented out to the poor without regard for the tenancy law.

While the state is making moves to solve the rental and housing issue, it is clear that there is a disconnect between what the poor need and what the city considers a viable solution. To tackle this same issue of affordable housing, the government recently launched a Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme as a solution to the housing challenges in Lagos. Inclusive planning can and might have highlighted the difference between the two distinct markets for rental housing and home ownership. If renting is difficult enough, it is unlikely these group can afford to buy homes — these two options should not be treated as mutually exclusive.

The city can make its programs more effective for the poor with better enforcement of the tenancy laws. The state cannot provide all housing units required by residents — private developers can and will do more than the state. This makes proper tenancy law enforcement a high priority. Also helpful is performing thorough due diligence in assigning units to ensure that the targeted market is reached. It is crucial to create a line of communication and a sense of inclusiveness so that violations can be easily brought to the city's attention. Last but not least, proper maintenance codes of new and existing units are key so as to avoid their deterioration, as occurred with previous Jakande housing projects. Close.

Photo credit: Keji Ziza

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Población pobre y vulnerable participa en los planes de vivienda del DF

Mexico D.F., 14 julio 2014 — El gobierno del DF se coordina con OSC's para incluir a la población pobre y vulnerable en los planes de vivienda; a través de microcréditos, planeación conjunta y la capacitación para la elaboración de la materia prima y construcción de las viviendas. El éxito es la inclusión de los actores por medio de acciones participativas. Leer más.

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Población pobre y vulnerable participa en los planes de vivienda del DF

María Fernanda Carvallo, Gestor Comunitario de Mexico D.F.

En 2012 el Consejo Nacional para la Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) identificó que 15.9 millones de personas en el país carecían de calidad y espacios en la vivienda y 24 millones no tenían acceso a servicios básicos en el hogar.

En el mismo año, el Gobierno de la Ciudad de México identificó que 563,200 habitantes carecían de calidad y espacios en la vivienda y 264,000 habitantes no tenían acceso a servicios básicos en sus hogares. En este contexto, el Instituto de Vivienda del Gobierno del Distrito Federal (INVI) buscó aliados con la finalidad de fortalecer el capital físico de esta población, el cual es uno de los activos más importantes en la pobreza urbana como señala Carole Rakodi en su enfoque, "Urban Livelihoods: A people-centred approach to reducing poverty".

Con base en estos datos relevantes, el Instituto de Vivienda logró convenir con la Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI) y la organización de la sociedad civil, Ayúdame que yo También soy Mexicano (ATM), para atender a la población más vulnerable en el DF a través de la construcción y otorgamiento de créditos hipotecarios accesibles.

Con respecto a la CDI, ésta decidió atender a los asentamientos indígenas en zonas urbanas en el DF, con la finalidad de que los originarios de los pueblos Triqui, Náhuatl, Mazahua, Totonaca, Otomí y Huichol tengan acceso a crédito para rehabilitar sus casas, dado que al ser migrantes de zonas indígenas no cuentan con los requerimientos necesarios por las instituciones financieras para tener acceso a créditos.

En el caso de ATM, la organización decidió priorizar los polígonos con pobreza en las zonas de Mixquic, Tláhuac; Parres y Topilejo en Tlalpan; y San Pablo Oxtotepec, Santa Ana Tlacotenco, y San Nicolás Tetelco en Xochimilco. A diferencia de las acciones que realiza la CDI, en el caso de ATM son los mismos integrantes de la comunidad en coordinación con actores de ATM quienes participan en la elaboración de la materia prima (tabiques), planean, organizan, reciben un micro crédito y construyen o rehabilitan las casas con el compromiso de pagar el crédito otorgado.

Lo exitoso de estos programas impulsados por el INVI, es la planeación y ejecución de los créditos que van acompañados de acciones participativas e incluyentes de los actores. En este sentido, la solución de otorgar vivienda en la ciudad a las personas en condiciones de pobreza va más allá de solo dar subsidios. Se trata de entregar créditos accesibles, de planear en comunidad e involucrar a los diversos actores del ámbito gubernamental y sociedad civil para empoderar a la comunidad.

Según Rakodi, la vivienda es uno de los activos más importantes que la población pobre y vulnerable debe poseer en una ciudad para que la población pueda diversificar sus estrategias de vida a partir de este activo. Aunado a este impacto, al integrar a las personas en los procesos de desarrollo de vivienda, los invita a ser agentes activos en su desarrollo para que los proyectos sean sustentables y tengan mayor impacto en la vida de las personas. Close.

Photo credit: ATM

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Edificando conjuntos de ingresos mixtos y respetuosos con el medio ambiente

Cali, 11 julio 2014 — Ciudad Santa Barbara, un proyecto de 16.000 unidades en construcción en Palmira, cerca de Cali, reserva hasta un 33 por ciento de sus unidades para familias de bajos ingresos pero que pueden acceder a la vivienda gracias a ayudas públicas. Así se busca evita la segregación que generan los macro proyectos destinados 100 por ciento a estas familias. Leer más.

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Edificando conjuntos de ingresos mixtos y respetuosos con el medio ambiente

Jorge Bela, Gestor Comunitario de Cali

La edificación de vivienda destinada a los sectores con menos recursos económicos constituye uno de los mayores retos a los que se enfrentan las ciudades colombianas en la actualidad. Muchas de las soluciones impulsadas desde el sector público han adolecido de un diseño y de una ejecución inadecuada, y se han visto subordinadas a intereses políticos de corto plazo, problema agravado por la estricta limitación de mandatos. La falta de recursos también ha impulsado la construcción de conjuntos inmensos con el fin de ahorrar costos con economías de escala. La combinación de las presiones políticas con las limitaciones financieras han resultado en muchos casos en proyectos masivos sin los suficientes servicios básicos en los que los ciudadanos de menores recursos se veían segregados del resto de la población. A menudo estos conjuntos no tiene bien resueltos los servicios básicos, como el transporte, la seguridad o los servicios de limpieza y recogida de basuras. Su construcción en terrenos rurales fuera de la ciudad tienen también efectos devastadores en el medio ambiente, pues no se contemplan temas como el drenaje, y obligan a sus habitantes a realizar largos desplazamientos hacia sus lugares de trabajo, con la consiguiente contaminación atmosférica.

Estos problemas no son inevitables. Una planeación cuidadosa y políticas públicas bien pensadas y ejecutadas pueden traer resultados completamente diferentes, sin la necesidad de emplear recursos financieros adicionales. Un ejemplo de desarrollo que podríamos considerar prometedor es Ciudad Santa Bárbara. Está ubicado en Palmira, la misma ciudad que alberga el aeropuerto internacional de Cali. Ubicada a orillas de Cauca y con un entorno predominantemente rural, Palmira se encuentra a 22km del centro de Cali. El proyecto es masivo: 16.000 unidades de viviendas, a construir en 25 años, para un total de 60.000 habitantes. Los dos primeros conjuntos ya están en fase de construcción, y tienen un total de 398 unidades entre 56 y 83 metros cuadrados.

Ciudad Santa Bárbara reservará hasta un 33% de sus unidades para las personas con menores recursos. La idea detrás de esta iniciativa es integrarlos en un entorno de clase media. Aunque el coste de las unidades exceda la capacidad de pago de estas personas, dos programas estatales les permitirá el acceso a la vivienda. El primero consiste en un subsidio que se entregará a las personas que demuestren tener ahorrados al menos dos millones de pesos colombianos (unos mil dólares USA), mientras el segundo permitirá el acceso gratuito a la vivienda a aquellos que no puedan hacerlo por sus propios medios, aún con subsidio.

Entre las principales ventajas de la ocupación mixta es que la comunidad en su conjunto dispone de los recursos económicos necesarios para el mantenimiento del conjunto y de sus instalaciones comunes. Las unidades ya en construcción, por ejemplo, disponen de piscinas comunales y de ascensores. En fases futuras se incluirán viviendas de mayor tamaño y precio, incluso viviendas unifamiliares. Por otro lado, Santa Bárbara se ha diseñado prestando gran atención al medio ambiente. Las unidades incorporan medidas de ahorro energético, y un 22 por ciento del total de 250 hectáreas del desarrollo se han reservado para parques. Sistemas como el del uso de agua reciclada para los sanitarios permitirán un ahorro del 40 por ciento en el uso del agua.

Es demasiado pronto para saber si Santa Bárbara cumplirá con todas las expectativas que en este momento ha despertado. Sin embargo, es muy positivo constatar como desde la fase de diseño se ha buscado cuidadosamente minimizar el impacto social y ambiental de un proyecto tan voluminoso. Close.

Photo credit: Luigi Guiarini

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Planning for a more inclusive city

Mumbai, 10 July 2014 — What would an alternative future for Mumbai look like? For the first time in India's economic capital — and perhaps in the country — the people themselves have drafted a vision for their city. Standing in opposition to the current trajectory, the People's Vision turns top-down planning on its head. See more.

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Planning for a more inclusive city

Carlin Carr, Mumbai Community Manager

More than 60 percent of Mumbai's population lives in slums. The need for affordable housing is massive and yet despite the overwhelming deficit, state intervention has been limited. Aravind Unni, an architect with the NGO Youth for Unity and Volunteer Action (YUVA), says that informal settlements have sprung up in the absence of any alternative. More importantly, the settlements should be recognized for their ingenuity in fulfilling an essential need of the people rather than being deemed illegal and denied basic provisions. Unni has been part of a movement over the last year to expand the debate, discussion and intervention on affordable housing—among many other public services—by intervening in the 20-year vision for the city known as the Development Plan (DP).

Under the MR&TP Act, every two decades, the municipality undertakes an exercise to update its most basic and essential plan for the development or redevelopment of public land in the city. Since the DP plans out access to municipal services — from parks to schools to toilet blocks, and of course, public housing — the document has great potential to be a building block tool in mapping out a more inclusive and equitable city.

Last year, after another organization, the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), uncovered that the Existing Land Use plan had misappropriated reservation of public land for other uses, the planning authorities agreed to open up the process to public scrutiny. After this process, numerous organizations in the city came together around concerns in the revision of the Development Plan. An informal coalition of more than 80 organizations formed Hamara Shehar Vikas Niyojan (HSVN) Abhiyaan ("Our City Development Plan Forum") and drafted the People's Vision for Mumbai. "For the first time in the history of Mumbai (and may be in India)" an alternative view on how the city should be planned was presented to authorities, says Unni.

Among the many concerns of the group has been housing security and how the DP plans to address the estimated 2.3 million housing deficit. The group stands opposed to the current public-private partnerships that have dominated the current municipality plans as well as new national housing schemes such as Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY); rather, the People's Vision calls for current slum lands, which amounts to just 8 percent of the city (though that land houses 60 percent of the Mumbaikers), to be entirely designated for state-created affordable housing and "not to be used for constructing houses for profiteering."

"The state itself has to play a major role in making the tenements for the poor on demarcated government land and ensure that we gradually close up the housing deficit," says Unni of the group's demands.

For any intervention to work, however, the DP needs to have an accurate understanding of what exactly is happening on the ground. Despite recognition in the DP of informal settlements, proper statistics and numbers are still missing. The hope is that this DP process will provide better links between NGOs working with informal communities and the authorities so there can be more informed decision-making at the top levels.

"The major breakthrough in the DP process this time around has been the consultations and debates on planning concerns with the state, which until now was a very secretive process. All these consultations are not mandated in the MR&TP act, but are a result of constant advocacy efforts," says Unni of the triumphs over the last year. "These processes, we hope, will motivate other groups in different cities around the country and thereby permanently change the discourse on planning in cities, and how it can and should be made inclusive and participatory." Close.

Photo credit: David Warlick

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Community mobilising in the face of a housing crisis

Lilongwe, 9 July 2014—With a growth rate of 4.3 percent per annum, Lilongwe needs an average of 10,000 new dwellings per year to cope with demand, none of which are forthcoming. To improve the situation, local NGO CCODE works with the poor, helping them to develop their own solutions to address the housing crisis. See more.

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Community mobilising in the face of a housing crisis

Nora Lindstrom, Lilongwe Community Manager

Lilongwe is growing fast. The population growth rate is estimated at 4.3 percent per annum, with projections of some 600,000 new residents between now and 2020. In a city where three quarters of the population live in informal settlements and/or sub-standard housing, such an increase in population puts a massive strain on the already inadequate housing supply. UN-Habitat has estimated that 10,000 new dwellings will need to be built annually to house the city's growing population, mainly on the low-income spectrum. Beyond Chinese-funded gated community developments, however, no public initiatives to increase housing supply can be seen.

Patrick Chikoti is the Executive Director of the Centre for Community Organisation and Development (CCODE). The organisation he heads works with urban poor communities with the aim of helping communities help themselves. "At the moment the government doesn't provide any resources [for house construction]," he says. "If you want a house, from idea, through planning, realisation, and inhabitation, you have no contact with any authorities."

Access to land is facilitated — informally — by village chiefs, and "the poverty of the people is reflected in the quality of their houses" according to Patrick. As such, rural type housing is proliferating in Lilongwe, contributing to the ruralisation of urban areas, as also experienced in other parts of southern Africa.

"We need a real system that benefits the poor, the current system only benefits the other group," says Patrick. He adds that the current situation not only denies the poor adequate housing, but also adds to their marginalisation as they are perceived as encroachers given the informal way they access land for housing.

To enhance the urban poor's access to housing, CCODE in 2005 funded the construction of some 200 dwellings in Lilongwe's Area 49, to be repaid over time by the beneficiaries. While addressing the problem of housing supply, the approach was however met with challenges, including issues surrounding quality of the houses. Recently, there's been a change in approach. "We need to focus on building the community, because residents in a particular area are not always well-joined. We need to get them to collaborate, to support each other with their skills," says Patrick.

CCODE now works to mobilise and strengthen communities to pursue their needs. Key in the process is the development of community action plans and development strategies, which guide not only actions taken by the community itself, but also act as proposals to the government and potential donors. "The idea is to get the authorities to collaborate with the people," Patrick says. "I'd like to see Lilongwe City Council getting on the ground. [They should] be looking at things together with the people."

At the community level, the CCODE strategy has already born fruit in terms of helping communities identify their needs. "A few years ago, we conducted community enumeration in Mtandire, a large informal settlement," Patrick says. "The community members didn't even know how many households didn't have a toilet. When we got the results, they were so surprised."

Another target community is Senti, a poor settlement of some 16,000 residents. CCODE has been working with the community since 2012, conducting a community profiling exercise, including participatory mapping and enumeration. The process has helped the community define their needs and priorities, and they have created a savings scheme to raise funds for community development projects. To date, funds have already been used to improve roads in the settlement.

CCODE's work is laudable, and undoubtedly necessary in the face of increasing urbanisation. To complete the picture, however, the Malawi government must come forward with a comprehensive plan, such as a National Housing Policy (which has existed in draft form since 2007), to address the growing need for adequate housing in Lilongwe, as well as the country's other urban centres. Close.

Photo credit: CCODE

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The awkward terrains of post-apartheid housing

Johannesburg, 8 July 2014—After two decades of democracy, the post-apartheid housing landscape in South Africa still reveals physical and social environments created within the compromised space of the inheritances of apartheid capitalism. This demands either a timely revisit of the pragmatic compromises on neoliberal terms initially made for South African democratization to work, or a higher order of involvement of institutions whose priority is the public good or, in the very least, they prompt reflection—not rhetoric—on the kind of post-apartheid society and spaces that are actually being shaped. See more.

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The awkward terrains of post-apartheid housing

Tariq Toffa, Johannesburg Community Manager

After the end of apartheid in 1994, the new democratic government promised to build millions of subsidized houses (informal settlements and overcrowded townships resulted when the apartheid state stopped building accommodation for Black Africans in Johannesburg in the 1970's). At least three distinct types of government-subsidized housing have emerged in the post-apartheid dispensation: (1) 'RDP', (2) 'inclusionary', and (3) mixed-income housing models (figs. 1-3 respectively).

Many of the failings of 'RDP' housing, initially part of the Reconstruction and Development Programme under which low-cost houses for qualifying indigent South Africans was first rolled out post-1994, are well documented. These include their peripheral locations (discussed in a previous article), low densities, and mono-functional dormitory environments. Over the last few years however, two new directions in housing policy (inclusionary and mixed-income housing) have been developed that attempt to improve upon the RDP model and to address the inherited apartheid city geography (racial homogeneity of many areas, racialised patterns of inequality and access to economic opportunities).

Inclusionary housing requires or provides incentives to private developers to incorporate 'affordable' or 'social housing' rentals as a part of market-driven, urban developments. Although the rental sector accounts for approximately 20 percent of households in South Africa, much of it in slum conditions, current provision is still insignificant relative to the demand. Since the model targets an aspirant middle class (the "gap market") rather than the poorest income groups, the government has received some criticism, especially from the Socio-Economic Rights Institute. There is also the further possibility of their displacement in rejuvenated urban centres unless appropriate mechanisms are put in place to mitigate this.

Another new direction in housing policy is mixed-income housing developments, usually undertaken in partnership with private sector housing developers and financial institutions. These award-winning, model mega-projects accommodate different income groups in different housing typologies, for "integrating communities in well located areas" as the government website states. This mix contains fully subsidised and partially subsidised units; non-subsidised, fully bonded houses sold on the open market; and a smaller number of apartments for rent. Initially, at the pioneering 'Cosmo City' mixed-income project in Johannesburg, wealthy property owners and the banks opposed the project, fearing that lower income groups would compromise the value of their properties or their investment. To ensure property values remained intact, the solution was a sprawling landscape of over 11,000 stands carefully apportioned according to house value, in what can only be called a 'class segregation'.

Despite the variations in tenure options, target markets, density and location, there is yet a sense of continuity among these different post-apartheid housing models which prompt reflection, on their historical processes and their futures. It is worth recalling that along with the great human achievement of eliminating formal racism and a new constitutionalism, South African democratization was still profoundly compromised by an intra-elite economic deal: enabling black nationalists to win state power, leaving in place a grossly inequitable economic system, and excluding most of the black majority from sharing in the country's vast mineral wealth.

For housing, this meant a privatization, with much greater reliance upon banks and commercial developers than state and community-driven development, and bringing more intense class segregation which increasingly distinguishes the urban landscape. Though each contains their own kinds of innovations, successes and failings, these housing models therefore raise deeper questions of the kind of city and society that is being shaped. Rather than a post-apartheid society tending towards socialism or participatory democracy which many may have looked forward to, it is somewhere between capitalist frameworks and the social demands from below that we find these awkward—though perhaps not surprising—emergent terrains of post-apartheid spaces. Close.

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Comments

Formalising bottom-up planning?

Permalink Submitted by Nora Lindstrom on Mon, 07/21/2014 - 10:41

Carlin, interesting read about the People's Vision for Mumbai. Sounds like a great initiative, though I'm sure facing several challenges. Unni mentions that the consultations etc. on the DP are (unsurprisingly) not mandated in the MR&TP act; I wonder if you are aware of any efforts to formalise consultation/participation into the process? While having the right to participate and/or be consulted of course by no means ensures consultation/participation happens or that it is meaningful, it can nevertheless be used as a reference point to demand that right.

Consultations in DP

Permalink Submitted by Carlin Carr on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 04:44

Nora, very good point, and it's something I'm sure this group would advocate for, if they aren't already. Since the DP happens only ever 20 years, it's seems to me just as important to think about how this group's efforts can be harnessed in the intervening years. It's rare to have so many different sectors come together in the city, even though the issues are so often very inter-related. It's even rarer to have the officials take notice of these groups. It will take some effort to keep this momentum going.

Permalink Submitted by Damilare Olowookere (not verified) on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 01:39

The housing deficit prevalent in the city of Lagos cannot be address by HOMS initiated by the Lagos state government because the influx of Nigerians seeking greener pasture in the economic capital state of Nigeria increases geometrically than the number of housing provided by the governor. Historically, the failure of the Jakande estate to address the housing deficit when the population growth in Lagos is not high compare to the 2000s indicates that HOMS cannot address the problem. For the housing problem to be address, the federal government must embark on even development of the country so that residents in each state will be engaged in productive work. Also, the Lagos state government can partner near-by state to build satellite towns to absorb the excess population in Lagos state.

Housing: A challenge amongst other social issues

Permalink Submitted by Olatawura Ladip... on Fri, 07/25/2014 - 10:48

Damilare, thanks for your inputs.You are very right the issue of housing goes beyond the state government, given that its a challenge emanating from other social issues which are not necessarily concentrated in Lagos. People come to Lagos in droves. The state is trying to tackle this as best within its capacity hence the home ownership schemes. Where I would have loved to see better planning was in the execution of the scheme towards targeting the low middle income and poor which recently they seem to be doing. I recently heard the scheme now has a hire-purchase element to it that allows people rent-to own the property, an improvement that definitely works better fo rteh current challenges. I suppose the city could put more pressure at officials at the national level to ease the strains you have spoken about.

Vivienda como estrategia urbana.

Permalink Submitted by María Fernanda ... on Thu, 07/24/2014 - 15:50

Ana Cristina, coincido totalmente en que la vivienda es un elemento fundamental que determina cómo las ciudades se expanden en el territorio; pues bien no solo es dotar de un techo a los habitantes, sino que las viviendas estén conectadas a las zonas en donde se encuentran los servicios básicos, infraestructura de transporte, que sean zonas fuera de riesgo de desastres naturales, etc. Al igual que en Caracas, la Ciudad de México vive la misma problemática en donde la expansión de la mancha urbana se desarrolló dependiendo de la oferta y demanda de vivienda sin integrar una lógica de planeación; en este sentido hoy nos encontramos con la misma dificultad en donde ya no hay donde generar vivienda nueva que albergue a la población vulnerable o a la que se encuentra asentada de manera informal. Un gran reto de las ciudades es identificar alternativas innovadoras que contemple en donde albergar a toda la población sin comprometer los demás factores de las ciudades.

Gracias por tu comentario

Permalink Submitted by Ana Cristina (not verified) on Tue, 07/29/2014 - 05:52

Gracias por tu comentario María Fernanda. Estoy de acuerdo contigo, pero pienso que el reto de las ciudades es urbanizar, no crear viviendas para albergar familias que deben viajar horas para buscar trabajo y prefieren vivir en los asentamientos informales dentro de las grandes ciudades.

Community slum mapping — a housing solution? Gemma Todd

Permalink Submitted by Shaima Abulhajj on Fri, 07/25/2014 - 01:43

Hello Gemma,
Great article on Dar Essalam crisis and informal housing issue, as we have here in Cairo. Slums mapping is great idea, however, is there a real strategy developed by the government and civil society to take this mapping to further stage, i.e. improving the slums status, legalizing houses, creating utility networks for the slums for healthier accommodations...etc
I believe it is very important to have a comprehensive strategy in this case, starting with mapping and ends with implementation plan for better housing conditions.
Thank you,

Bringing in CSO and Governments

Permalink Submitted by Gemma Todd on Mon, 07/28/2014 - 09:10

Hey Shaima, thanks for your response, I completely agree! In order to think about scaling up the idea of community mapping as a effective solution the government needs to think about utilising it as a tool for inclusive housing, which requires them changing how they see slums in the first place. At the moment there are no specific government initiatives to show that the strategy has been implemented, but I have provided a link below which provides some hope. I have attached a link to Slum Dwellers International and a article was written in January on 'getting to know your city' through data and mapping. The article discusses a meeting that took place last year, inviting East African stakeholders to discuss the theme of Community Profiling for Urban Planning. One of the conclusions is stated nicely in the SDI article, it states how the stakeholders (including government officials) recognised the positives of improving data and the our understanding of the city for effective planning, and also how the data would provide a basis for creating trust at multiple scales (governments to communities). However, what is worrying is the fact there hasn't been little development since. There needs to be more capacity building in communities and CSOs to carry out such tasks and hold governments accountable to such solutions, and promises they make to include communities in discussions on housing and service provision. One of the issue is how can plans progress in Tanzania. There are frequent meetings, but progress to the next stage, to effective implementation, has been limited. Which is a question of both what is going on the ground, and why are governments taking the time to push to the next stage.

Heres the link: http://www.sdinet.org/blog/categories/tanzania/

Thanks Shaima! Do you know of any cases where they use slum mapping in Cairo?

Additional - Urban Governance

Permalink Submitted by Gemma Todd on Mon, 07/28/2014 - 09:56

Also Shaima, this link may be of relevance. The LSE recently collaborated with UN-Habitat and UCLG to complete research into urban governance. The objectives of the survey was: how to counteract the data challenge of cities today in order to think about improving urban governance, and to explore how to communicate and map urban governance for public dissemination, comparative policy and research analysis. If CSO's, CBOs, and communities themselves, utilise slum mapping it could form a basis for improving urban governance.

Inclusive Housing - Common themes

Permalink Submitted by Priyanka Jain on Mon, 07/28/2014 - 01:20

There are consistent themes across the articles. First, where the projects on affordable housing are yet to be implemented or are in the process of, institutional roadblocks seems to be the biggest hurdle. There is entry of private sector but fear of systematic land grab under the guise of affordable housing. Second, most of the schemes have been unsuccessful in the integration of community participation inspite of the need and desire for participatory democracy. Third, provision of housing isn’t enough and basic services and transport accessibility are important factors in making affordable housing schemes successful.
Successful case studies such as one of Janaadhar in Bangalore, CCODE in Lilongwe, UDRI in Mumbai and INVI in Mexico provide valuable lessons. Having successfully implemented participatory processes to draft vision and needs of the community, they are now working out solutions to provide better quality of construction and finance mechanism that make the provision of affordable housing sustainable over a longer period.

Mapping of slums in Cairo

Permalink Submitted by Shaima Abulhajj on Mon, 07/28/2014 - 11:44

Dear Gemma,
Thanks for your response. So, I believe now the mapping of informal areas is just a start and as you stated, what is worrying is the lack of progress in this regard. I believe even if CBOs get some capacity building and relevant training, without the government bodies involvement, it will be hard for those NGOs to proceed on their own. In Cairo, there are many initiatives for mapping of the informal areas. For example, Council of Ministers -Center of information and Decision Making conducted an inclusive study and precise mapping on those areas of more than 400 pages. You may check it here http://www.idsc.gov.eg/Publications/PublicationDetails.aspx?typeid=1&id=47 although it is in Arabic language. Some development happened during Mubarak regime, when the ex-first woman of Egypt adopted one local informal area called Zeinhom and at the same district she changed the utilities network for the houses there, ordered for building new modern buildings for the same people living there, ordered to establish a park at the same slum area and a library. The people of the slum were accommodation in new economic apartments for low consideration. So, as in Dar Essalam as in Egypt, government should proceed faster and without government real engagement, it would be hard for any party to step up. Looking forward to read your new article :)

Macro proyectos en Bogotá

Permalink Submitted by Ana Cristina Vargas on Tue, 07/29/2014 - 06:05

Jorge, me parece muy interesante tu artículo sobre los macro proyectos en Bogotá. Me pregunto si ayudaría que hubiesen pensando en ofrecer viviendas para distintos grupos sociales y así generar diversidad y quizás oportunidades de trabajo dentro del desarrollo de vivienda que parece una pequeña ciudad. Igual me pregunto por qué el desarrollo no busca apoyarse en los servicios existentes de Soacha y el gobierno invertir en servicios básicos para toda la zona. Al tener distintas ofertas de vivienda un grupo podría pagar algo de plusvalía para ayudar al desarrollo de la infraestructura.

Participation is the key

Permalink Submitted by widya anggraini on Sat, 08/02/2014 - 00:19

Informal settlements mushroomed as people get in the city to find a living. And because informal settlements always unavoidable sometimes the government prepare less in anticipating the consequences. Several articles already mentioned how important community participation in planning process and identification of what they need as happened in Lilongwe or when people get involved in drafting Development Plan process in Mumbai. Participation is a vital element but always forgotten intentionally or unintentionally. In a country such as Indonesia, participation has been acknowledge within national development process regulation but the degree of participation is still questionable, and only few cities, as Ana’s stated, think housing as urbanization strategy.

With regard to housing mortgage, the current scheme in Indonesia allows people from middle-income families to have housing but not people from informal settlements that’s why government build social housing or flats with very low price for them to stay. Bank only has little involvement in this matter. That’s why I really interested in Vietnam case, how is the Bank response with the new policy and how do targeted communities react? is there any private developer involved in this scheme?

Inclusive planning and housing

Housing initiatives for workers in the growing ready-made garments sector

Housing initiatives for workers in the growing ready-made garments sector

Raiya Kishwar Ashraf, Dhaka Community Manager

تأمين سكن للفقراء في القاهرة...هل هناك مخرج للأزمة؟

Housing for the poor in Cairo: is there a way out?

تأمين سكن للفقراء في القاهرة...هل هناك مخرج للأزمة؟

Shaima Abulhajj, Cairo Community Manager

Housing for the poor in Cairo: is there a way out?

Shaima Abulhajj, Cairo Community Manager

Tantangan pengembangan rumah susun bagi masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah

Challenges in developing public housing for low-income communities

Tantangan pengembangan rumah susun bagi masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah

Widya Anggraini, Jakarta Community Manager

Challenges in developing public housing for low income communities

Widya Anggraini, Jakarta Community Manager

The market at the bottom of the housing pyramid

The market at the bottom of the housing pyramid

Carlin Carr, Bangalore Community Manager

Ciudad Verde: riesgos de los macro proyectos en Bogotá

Risks of the macro proyecto approach to housing lower-income families in Bogotá

Ciudad Verde: riesgos de los macro proyectos en Bogotá

Jorge Bela, Gestor Comunitario de Bogotá

Risks of the macro proyecto approach to housing lower-income families in Bogotá

Jorge Bela, Bogotá Community Manager

Novo Plano Diretor de São Paulo: a necessidade de aumentar a qualidade de vida de todos os cidadãos

São Paulo's new Master Plan: the need to improve quality of life for all citizens

Novo Plano Diretor de São Paulo: a necessidade de aumentar a qualidade de vida de todos os cidadãos

Carla Link, Coordenadora da Rede em São Paulo

São Paulo's new Master Plan: the need to improve quality of life for all citizens

Carla Link, São Paulo Community Manager

Housing the (radical) everyday

Housing the (radical) everyday

Tariq Toffa, Cape Town Community Manager

Vivienda como estrategia urbana

Housing as an urban strategy

Vivienda como estrategia urbana

Ana Cristina Vargas, Gestor Comunitario de Caracas

Housing as an urban strategy

Ana Cristina Vargas, Caracas Community Manager

The illusion of urban renewal and the magicians' ghetto

The illusion of urban renewal and the magicians' ghetto

Priyanka Jain, Delhi Community Manager

Mortgaging future social houses: a new hope for the urban poor

Mortgaging future social houses: a new hope for the urban poor

Tam Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City Community Manager

Partisipasi dan pembangunan kembali rusunawa

Participation and public housing redevelopment

Partisipasi dan pembangunan kembali rusunawa

Widya Anggraini, Surabaya Community Manager

Participation and public housing redevelopment

Widya Anggraini, Surabaya Community Manager

Community slum mapping — a housing solution?

Community slum mapping — a housing solution?

Gemma Todd, Dar es Salaam Community Manager

The city of Lagos' tenancy and home ownership schemes

The city of Lagos' tenancy and home ownership schemes

Olatawura Ladipo-Ajayi, Lagos Community Manager

Población pobre y vulnerable participa en los planes de vivienda del DF

The poor and vulnerable participate in Mexico City's housing plans

Población pobre y vulnerable participa en los planes de vivienda del DF

María Fernanda Carvallo, Gestor Comunitario de Mexico D.F.

The poor and vulnerable participate in Mexico City's housing plans

María Fernanda Carvallo, Mexico City Community Manager

Edificando conjuntos de ingresos mixtos y respetuosos con el medio ambiente

Building mixed-income, environmentally sound housing

Edificando conjuntos de ingresos mixtos y respetuosos con el medio ambiente

Jorge Bela, Gestor Comunitario de Cali

Building mixed-income, environmentally sound housing

Jorge Bela, Cali Community Manager

Planning for a more inclusive city

Planning for a more inclusive city

Carlin Carr, Mumbai Community Manager

Community mobilising in the face of a housing crisis

Community mobilising in the face of a housing crisis

Nora Lindstrom, Lilongwe Community Manager

The awkward terrains of post-apartheid housing

The awkward terrains of post-apartheid housing

Tariq Toffa, Johannesburg Community Manager

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