<p>The ANC government came to power in 1994 and has had to come to grips with many economic, social and political challenges it inherited from the apartheid regime. A majority of the people were marginalized and subjected to poor standards of living in areas that were inadequately provided for in terms of basic services. One of the biggest challenges the new government is facing is the delivery of services especially housing. Poor policy implementation continues to complicate the existing problems. The study critically examined the extent to which poor policy implementation has affected the provision of housing in Khayelitsha with focus on the respective stakeholders.</p>

<p>This research endeavours to identify existing participatory structures and explore the role of local government officials, community representatives and other role players in the housing delivery process in Joe Slovo / indicate opportunities for the participation of beneficiaries in the housing process as well as the extent and nature of community engagement / highlight existing barriers to effective community participation and other problems related to housing delivery in Joe Slovo / draw general conclusions within the framework of the government&rsquo / s housing policy / and provide recommendations to policy makers, urban planners and other stakeholders. Consequently, this research employs qualitative methodological tools as they are most appropriate in the collection of this type of data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local officials, and observations were used to gather critical information. In addition, secondary data, with a special focus on newspaper articles, were used.</p>

In Kenya, as in most developing countries, the provision of adequate housing for the urban poor has been an elusive exercise for the past five decades. Since the early 1960s when serious concerns were raised over housing provision for low income groups and the proliferation of slums and informal settlements, various intervention strategies have been applied without much success. The failure of these interventions has been attributed to high costs of implementation hindering their replication, and displacement of targeted beneficiaries by better endowed income groups upon their completion. As a result, the realised moderate density housing has been transforming into multi-storey housing with intense densification. Housing and the built environment in general are realised within the prevailing systems of social, physical, and economic, settings and are influenced by development and urbanization trends. The purpose of this study therefore was to identify, account and document the prevailing systems of settings and the embedded systems of activities in the informal settlements that determine and sustain them in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. The study analysed these systems at the city, the neighbourhood, and the dwelling levels with the objective of establishing relevant systems of settings and their embedded systems of activities appropriate for adaption in the regularization of informal settlements for sustainable housing development for the urban poor in Nairobi. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodology was utilised in this explorative study. The research methodology applied entailed questionnaires, interviews, observations and discussions. Three case study areas were selected representing three different settings for informal settlements namely; informal settlement on government land with minimal level of interventions; community based informal settlement upgraded for rental housing; and site-and-service settlement informally transforming into multi-storey tenements. Theories and concepts that informed this study include Environment-Behaviour Relations, Environment-Attitude Relations, Sustainable Livelihoods, Social, and Market Theories. The study was conducted in Mathare Valley informal settlement of Nairobi which is located approximately six kilometres from the city centre. The settlement was selected because of the varied informalities it hosts in addition to being the oldest informal settlement in the city. The findings of the study show that the social, economic and physical systems of settings are crucial determinants of housing outcomes and determine the location, nature and characteristics of these settlements including the activities they embody at the city, the neighbourhood and the dwelling levels. Similarly, the study shows that the dwellers adapt to the prevailing systems of settings in response to their livelihood constraints, opportunities and capabilities. As a consequence, limitations arising from economic constraints have led to the predominance of rental housing over owner-occupied housing. Limited access to land has led to crowding and densification. Poverty and unemployment has led to uncontrolled commercial activities within residential neighbourhoods. The study recommends that intervention approaches spearheading regularization of informal settlements commence by considering the problem of informal settlements at city level where their recognition and acceptance is important. This should then be related to job opportunities, ease of access to work, and other social amenities. At the neighbourhood and dwelling levels where the two are intertwined, emphasis should be given to maximum utilization of land and development of housing typologies that evolve with economic improvement of the nation. The government and local authorities should still be responsible for infrastructure development whereas private investors encouraged to develop rental housing targeting the low-income groups and on land designated for such purpose by the government. Market forces should be allowed to determine rent levels. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

"A significant number of households in need of housing in South Africa can afford to access housing credit, provided that this is available. Such credit is currently not readily accessible by most of such home seekers. Unlocking housing credit is therefore seen as a fundamental requirement in order to facilitate the ongoing improvement of the housing circumstances of such households" (Housing White Paper, 1994). Restricted access and unavailability of housing end-user finance is one of the critical challenges which faces the government in general, and the Department of Housing in particular. Access to end-user finance is limited due to many reasons which the study will identify. This study primarily looks at the access and availability of housing end-user finance to the low income earners. Basically it attempts to explore the impact of Non-Traditional Lenders in the provision of end-user finance to the poor. Non-traditional lenders refer to any lender who is not a traditional retail finance lender/company. The study looks at the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) and the National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency's (NURCHA) attempts to mobilise housing credit. It closely pays special attention to the strategies used to mobilise the much-needed credit, their impact and the problems they encounter. This is done with the sole purpose of establishing whether or not it is possible to extend their scope to cater for the low income housing market. To realise this purpose, the study follows the path undertaken by these two institutions in terms of impacting to the poor. Agishana Credit Company's activities were investigated in order to determine Nurcha's impact, and Ithala Development Finance Corporation for the NHFC. Further, a path will be established to determine the impact of these retail lenders on the poor. Thus, Pioneer Park housing project is surveyed to determine Ithala's lending activities as well as Thembalihle (Glenwood 2) housing project for Agishana. It is paramount to indicate that both the NHFC and Nurcha do not lend to a man on the street, but deal with retail lenders. In essence, the NHFC attempts to open the floodgates of housing credit by funding intermediary lenders that on-lend to individual beneficiaries, while on the other hand, Nurcha guarantees activities by these intermediary lenders. This study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one broadly gives an overview of problems regarding access and availability of housing end-user finance and also outlines the research methodology employed. Chapter two identifies and discusses the different housing delivery systems, as well as gives a vivid picture on the functioning of non-traditional lenders. It provides both international and national experiences that proves that it is feasible to provide housing loans to the poor. Chapter three aims at offering historical background of the four institutions. It identifies their missions, sources of funds, nature of clientele, key activities and the strategies they employ with regards to defaults. Chapter four provides the finding and analysis of the surveys conducted. Firstly, a brief background of the case study areas is outlined. Then findings of the study reveal that it is safe to lend to low income households. This proves that there is a potential to successfully lend to this market without running at a loss. Chapter five is a summary of the research findings, conclusions and recommendations. The findings of the study point out that there is a place for provision of housing credit to the poor. To that end, the study recommends that, what is needed to significantly provide housing loans to this market is the amalgamation of the NHFC and Nurcha's activities; establishment of more lending institutions; encouragement of savings for housing purposes; as well as commitment to innovatively devise and introduce new lending products to cater for this market, which is equally met with strategies to level the play field in terms of legislation so that lending institutions can participate in this housing market at scale. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of Natal, 2000.

Informed by the sustainable livelihoods (SL) approach, this project investigates whether the impact of the KwaMathukuza housing project has gone beyond meeting the basic human need for shelter to have a broader positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of the occupants. In so doing, the research also considers if the housing project (and the relocation of people to these houses) had any negative effects on the livelihoods of the households. The main methods of data collection in the study are qualitative structured interviews with a sample of beneficiaries and semi-structured interviews with various key informants. The main findings are consistent with what has been found by studies on low-cost housing in South Africa. The following challenges remain: under-funding; and anti-poor policies such as the Elimination and Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Act (EPRSA) of 2007; failure to deliver on targets set; poor quality of houses; top-down approaches that do not resolve problems; challenges in acquisition of suitable land; beneficiaries selling their houses without the knowledge of the Deeds Registrar; and delegating housing delivery to the private sector. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

This study looks at the potential contribution of informal housing delivery in establishing enabling low-income housing standards in Kitwe, Zambia as a way of addressing the shortage of adequate and affordable housing for the urban poor. Informal housing delivery is increasingly being seen as the urban poors' response to the chronic shortage of housing in most cities in developing countries. Proponents of informal housing delivery have been alluding to the many positive impacts that informal housing has on the poor households since the 1960's. This aspect is slowly gaining acceptance in many housing policies in developing countries that are now opting to work with rather than forcefully relocated informal dwellers. The Zambia National Housing Policy set an ambitious list of objectives aimed at realising its goal of providing adequate and affordable housing to all income groups in the country, including the reform of housing standards which currently inhibit the incorporation of informal housing techniques and materials into conventional practices. However, there appears to be no framework within which this objective will be achieved. The study, therefore, investigated the positive attributes of informal housing delivery through a literature review of standards and general discourse and policies regarding traditional, informal and formal housing settlements. Through the literature review, a set of indicators was established to measure and analyse informal housing standards prevailing in Kamatipa, an informal settlement north of the city of Kitwe in Zambia and building regulations that substantially hinder the incorporation of these standards into conventional low-income housing standards. They study establishes a number of positive attributes of informal housing in Kamatipa and the regulations that they contravene under current standards. It concludes by making recommendations towards establishing guidelines for assimilating these positive elements in a reformed regulatory framework to achieve enabling low-income housing standards in the city and country. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

The study explores the factors hampering the growth of a sustainable lower middle income (LMI) housing market. The LMI group includes members of the working class who earn between R3,500 and R7,000 per month. The motivation for the research followed an observation made in 2003, that the policies of both the Department of Housing and the traditional banking system excluded this income category from accessing housing assistance. However, during the course of the study, the state started extending subsidy assistance to this income group, through the Breaking New Ground (BNG) policy. The study employed oral and written data collection methods. The housing market participants was divided into three broad categories, namely, demand side participants, supply side participants and the housing market facilitators. Interviews were conducted with both supply side participants and facilitators. On the demand side a questionnaire survey was conducted to establish the experiences of households in respect of the home acquisition process. The research findings revealed that LMI households require a housing typology which is described as a two bedroom detached starter house, within close proximity to a public transport system, and other community facilities for ease of accessibility. The data showed that the LMI households required financial education before getting involved in the home acquisition transaction. In addition, it emerged that professional services offered by the estate agents were not being fully utilized by the LMI households simply because the households were not aware of the responsibility of the agents in the home acquisition transaction process. It is maintained that the LMI housing market is inundated with multi-faceted hurdles from both intrinsic and extrinsic sources. The intrinsic sources include household character, past experiences amongst others, while the extrinsic sources comprise housing stock availability, loan approval criteria, etc. These hurdles require both long and short term interventions addressing the convoluted home acquisition process which involves various facilitators and a costly immovable product. In conclusion, it is recommended that demand side home ownership education is necessary, whereby LMI households are prepared for the home acquisition process. On the supply side long and short term interventions are recommended towards creating enabling environments for the supply of starter houses located close to neighbourhood facilities particularly a reliable transport network. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

This thesis examines the relationship between women's empowerment and low-income housing sustainability. It argues that housing projects and policies should be designed to enable women take control of their environment, which would not only profit women but ensure economic and social sustainability of the neighborhood, benefiting all its other residents as well as the city. The thesis discusses how housing policies have failed to empower women and analyzes the manner in which a built environment can empower its female residents and consequently be enriched by them, as exemplified by three decades of history of an isolated neighborhood called Mountain Sights situated in the outskirts of Montreal.

African Americans have more disease, disability, and early death than whites. The leading causes of death for African American women are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. Several reasons for these differences, including racism, poverty, cultural differences, lack of knowledge about the importance of screening or testing to prevent health problems, inability to get to the doctor, or lack of trust in the medical system. Healthy eating habits are less evident among lower class neighborhoods because of the lack of availability and education about healthy foods. Although African Americans have a healthy acceptance of a wider range of body sizes, their tolerance may lead to more obesity and serious nutrition-related health problems. This study analyzed the risk of nutrition related deficits in African American women living in low income housing. The majority of respondents had been diagnosed with nutrition related medical conditions. Significant relationships were found between medical conditions and income. The behavioral changes within low-income families might be most difficult because of many barriers, but by further educating this population, they can learn to live with these disadvantages and create healthier diets for themselves and family.

Indonesia is in its era of development in almost every aspect of human life in which these development are directed and guided by the State Guidelines. One priority under the State Guidelines is housing development, specifically housing development for the low and middle income groups. 'Perumnas' or the National Housing Company is created by the government to take the responsibility of providing and developing affordable housing through a long term loan provided by the Bank Tabungan Negara (the State Savings Bank), with more careful observation to the population growth and its distribution, land use planning in urban and rural areas, job opportunity, health environment, social facility, local building material production, and maintain a balance with the regional development.Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia with its population of more than seven million people has become the primary city in Indonesia and it has been also as a major destination for migrants for jobs opportunities, public services, and information.This study has explored the National Housing Company strategies in dealing with the housing demand and the fast growing population, limited government financial funds, and land availability with special observation to the development of affordable housing in Jakarta; how the National Housing Company financed the housing program includes land and housing development, the methods of building construction, and the method of long term housing payment. / Department of Urban Planning