A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg, March 2017 / This thesis focuses on group of poorer white South Africans who have settled, informally and illegally, in a former caravan park on the West Rand of Johannesburg, The King Edward Park. It is enthographic study that explores the socio-economic genealogies of the poorer white residents of the park, the everyday practices of making livelihoods, and attempt to produce ideologies of South African blackness. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / MT 2018

本研究起源於個人曾任社會救助人員工作經驗上的困惑，究竟低收入戶在脫離福利之後能否走出貧窮？臺灣現時關於脫貧及離開者的探索不足。本研究目的在於透過探索低收入戶家庭如何主觀詮釋其貧窮歷程經驗，並從政府社會救助相關人員的視角，來理解他們如何看待貧窮、窮人與社會救助制度，進而分析國家社會救助制度在低收入戶家庭能否脫貧過程中的作用。 / 本研究立基建構主義的研究典範，採取質性研究取向，透過深度訪談法及文獻分析法蒐集資料，並以主題分析法來分析。在分析框架，結合貧窮歷程「進入、持續與脫離」的時間面向，以及「微觀、中觀及宏觀」的層次面向，並以社會排斥理論作為主要對話的理論。 / 研究發現，微觀層次，低收入戶家庭的主觀經驗，脫離救助不等於脫離貧窮，他們貧窮生活經驗的三部曲依次為「不穩定、步入穩定及向上提升或再次不穩定」，經歷福利制度的「排斥、融入及排斥」。中觀層次，社工漸失扶貧角色，工作者認為個案是否值得幫助以及個案的策略，會影響工作處遇及互動經驗，同時兼具融入及排斥角色。宏觀層次，社會救助制度透過親屬責任、工作倫理安排，在進入前產生制度性排斥；持續期間能夠穩定低收入戶的生活，發揮融入作用，但無助積極脫貧；離開後缺乏支持和緩衝，陷入再排斥危機。 / 基於研究發現，研究綜合討論了五個議題。首先，脫離福利不等於走出貧窮，還需經濟、心理自立，才能穩健離開。脫貧四種可能類型為「重返貧窮」、「心有餘力不足」、「有力心不安」以及「穩健離開」。第二，子女助脫貧，前提是能就業、願反饋，否則將反受勞動及福利排斥。第三，宏觀制度安排外，中觀工作者如何執行亦是排斥與否的關鍵。工作者與個案互動的四種類型為「傾力相助，融入」、「無奈讓步，不情願融入」、「順應民意，非意圖融入」以及「斷然拒絶，排斥」。第四，社會救助制度穩定生活有助融入，缺乏脫貧措施，易再造成排斥。第五，國家非蓄意排斥，唯怕崩解、防弊及缺服務，難大破大立；個案關注離開階段，基於權利，自我調整並結合外力，展開反排斥；工作者關注進入階段，立基公平正義，個別裁量及集體倡議展開反排斥。 / 最後，發現國家制度、執行工作者與福利使用者，三者都是有行動力的主體，本身既是融入者，也是排斥者和反排斥者，並非分立，而是交互影響的。因此提出以綜融性觀點來檢視跨層次間的作用，更有助於理解研究議題。未來三個層次要同步改變，才有助低收入戶長遠脫離貧窮。 / The main question of this research came from the researcher’s experience as a social assistance worker: whether the low-income households can get out of poverty after they left the social welfare system? The situation of the welfare leavers is under-researched in Taiwan. Therefore, the purposes of this thesis are, firstly, to explore the subjective interpretation of low-income households on their experience in poverty; secondly, from the perspectives of social assistance workers, to understand how they perceive poverty, the poor people and social assistance institutions; and finally, to analyze the effectiveness of social assistance institutions in helping the poor to get out of poverty. / Based on the stance of constructivism, this research is qualitative-oriented, and the data was collected through in-depth interviews and literature analysis. By adopting thematic analysis, the analytical framework of this research consists of two dimensions: time and levels. The former suggests to the process of poverty: the point of entry, the status of continuum and the point of escaping; and the latter presents the micro, messo and macro levels of analysis. The whole process of analysis and discussions are examined mainly through the lens of social exclusion theory. / The findings of this study can be divided into three levels. At the micro level, although the low-income households have left social assistance, it did not mean that they can get out of poverty. Their living experience of poverty could be seen as a trilogy, demonstrated sequentially as the stages of being unstable, gradually become stable, and situation improved or being unstable again. They experienced of being excluded, integrated and re-excluded from the welfare system in this process. At the messo level, social workers have gradually deviated from the role of helping the poor. Instead, whether the clients are "deserving" or "undeserving" poor in workers’ mind and the strategies their clients decide to adopt for their circumstances, were the main factors which contributed to future treatment and interactions with each other. In this regards, the workers can take up the role of helping the poor to integrate or excluding the poor. At the macro level, the institutional exclusion emerged at the beginning through relative’s responsibility and work ethics requirements when the clients applied the assistance. During the period with assistance, the assistance exerted its integrative impact to stabilize the clients’ living standard; however, it did not offer an effective solution for the clients to escape from their poverty. After the assistance ceased, the clients risked being excluded again due to lack of support or buffer to prevent themselves from the immediate economic pressure. / According to the findings, five issues are discussed in this thesis. First of all, the welfare leavers do not immediately experience the complete escape from poverty. Instead, the economic and mental independence play the key roles. There are four types of patterns in terms of getting away from poverty: ‘leave but fall into poverty again’, ‘with strong will but not capable of leaving poverty’, ‘with capability but without confidence’, and ‘on track to leave without coming back’. Secondly, if the poor expect to get rid of poverty through the strength of their children, it highly depended on the children’s capability of employment and their willingness to support their parents. Otherwise, they might end up being excluded by the labor market and the welfare system. Thirdly, besides the institutional factors at the macro level, how social workers provide services in practice at the messo level is also essential. It is found that there are four types of interactions between workers and the clients: ‘full effort to support and integration ‘retreat unwillingly and unwilling integration’, ‘to follow public opinion and unintend integration’ and ‘refuse boldly and exclusion’. Fourthly, the institution of social assistance is helpful for low-income households to manage their lives and social integration. However, it lacks measures to facilitate the low-income households escape from poverty, and thus easily causes re-exclusion. Finally, it is revealed that the state shows no intention in excluding the disadvantaged households; however, it still cannot transform the system due to the intention in maintaining the family function, in preventing welfare fraud, and in providing support services. Regarding the clients and the social workers, the former were more concerned about the stage when dis-attached from the welfare system, whilst the latter cared about the stage of entry. Based on having sensed their own rights, the clients adjusted themselves with external forces and started to fight for anti-exclusion after being excluded from the welfare system. Similarly, the social workers also value the idea of equality and social justice. However, they achieve this goal by exercising their discretion power when scrutinizing the applications, and moreover, collectively advocating for anti-exclusion of the low-income households. / All in all, the state institution, the social workers involved, and the welfare users are all subjects with their agency. They themselves play multi-roles to integrate, exclude and anti-exclude, and these roles are not isolated but interact with each other. This research, therefore, suggests utilizing generalist perspective to further examine the cross-level effects in order to understand this subject. In long term, the three levels have to be changed simultaneously in order to help the low-income households effectively get out of poverty. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 杜慈容 = Can welfare leavers get out of poverty? : a Study of low-income households in Taipei / Dou Tsz Rung. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 448-481). / Abstracts also in English. / Du Cirong = Can welfare leavers get out of poverty? : a Study of low-income households in Taipei / Dou Tsz Rung.

Shum Hoi Ying. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-168). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / CONTENTS --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research background / Chapter 1.1.1 --- The importance of group characteristics in designing an effective empowering mechanism / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Community currency as an empowering mechanism for the powerless poor / Chapter 1.2 --- Research objectives: To reveal the effectiveness of community currency in generating empowerment for the urban poor / Chapter 1.3 --- Research significance / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Theoretical significance / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Practical significance / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Literature review --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- Paying attention to the powerless poor in the city / Chapter 2.1.1 --- The multi-dimensional understanding of urban poverty / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Economic restructuring and social polarization / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Urban poverty in Hong Kong 一 in the context of economic restructuring / Chapter 2.2 --- Community currency as an empowering mechanism for the poor / Chapter 2.2.1 --- The importance of community building / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Empowering the poor using community currency - the experience of other countries / Chapter 2.3 --- Understanding the empowerment of individuals / Chapter 2.3.1 --- The concept of empowerment - -An overview / Chapter 2.3.2 --- The conceptualization of empowerment at the individual level / Chapter 2.3.3 --- The organizational characteristics of an empowering mechanism / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Research framework --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1 --- Inspirations from the literature / Chapter 3.2 --- Research questions / Chapter 3.3 --- Analytical framework - Studying the effectiveness of community currency as an empowering mechanism / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Research methodology / Chapter 4.1 --- Research design / Chapter 4.2 --- Data Sources / Chapter 4.2.1 --- In-depth interviews / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Participant observation / Chapter 4.3 --- Subject selections / Chapter 4.4 --- Core questions for interviews / Chapter 4.5 --- Methods of data analysis / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Understanding the Community Oriented Mutual Economy (COME) --- p.49 / Chapter 5.1 --- The context for the foundation of COME in Hong Kong / Chapter 5.1.1 --- The economic context / Chapter 5.1.2 --- The community context / Chapter 5.1.3 --- The organizational context / Chapter 5.2 --- The participants of COME - the powerless urban poor in Hong Kong / Chapter 5.3 --- The general description of COME / Chapter 5.3.1 --- The basic objectives of COME / Chapter 5.3.2 --- The functional structure of COME / Chapter 5.3.3 --- The exchanges in COME / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- The effect of COME in empowering the poor --- p.64 / Chapter 6.1 --- The empowerment outcomes at individual level / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Intrapersonal empowerment / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Interactional empowerment / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Behavioral empowerment / Chapter 6.2 --- Explaining the effects of COME in empowering the poor with its organizational characteristics / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Low degree of organizational regulation / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Group based belief system / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Multiple opportunity role structure / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Peer based support system / Chapter 6.2.5 --- Shared leadership with commitment / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- The constraints of COME in empowering the poor --- p.103 / Chapter 7.1 --- The constraint on raising the critical awareness of the participants / Chapter 7.2 --- The constraint on the development of diversified skills / Chapter 7.3 --- The constraint on encouraging organizational participation / Chapter CHAPTER 8 --- Conclusion --- p.113 / Chapter 8.1 --- Summary of findings / Chapter 8.2 --- Understanding the effectiveness of community currency as an empowering mechanism for the poor / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Theoretical implications / Chapter 8.2.2 --- Practical implications / Chapter 8.3 --- Methodological implications / Chapter 8.4 --- Suggestions for further research / Chapter 8.5 --- Outlook and vision / APPENDICES / Appendix A: Tables / "Table I Employment distribution by industrial sectors for the years of 1997, 2001 and 2002" --- p.124 / Table II Percentage of the working population in different industries by monthly income from main employment of in the year of 2001 --- p.125 / Table III Unemployment rate by previous industry from 1993 to 2003 --- p.126 / Table IV Underemployment rate by previous industry from 1993 to 2003 --- p.127 / Table V Unemployment rate by previous occupation from 1993 to 2003 --- p.128 / Table VI Underemployment rate by previous occupation from 1993 to 2003 --- p.129 / Table VII General profiles of respondents (Participants) --- p.130 / Table VIII General profiles of respondents (St. James Staff) --- p.132 / Table IX Number of members in each functional division of COME --- p.133 / Table X The summary of exchange of the respondents --- p.134 / Table XI The intrapersonal empowerment of participants --- p.136 / Table XII The interactional empowerment of participants --- p.138 / Table XIII The behavioral empowerment of participants --- p.141 / Appendix B: Documents / Document I Core questions for the interviews --- p.143 / Document II The basic objectives of COME --- p.146 / Document III Admission procedures for individual members --- p.148 / Document IV The operation of exchange in COME --- p.149 / Document V Membership characteristics --- p.152 / Document VI The operations and functions of each functional division --- p.156 / Appendix C: Figure / Figure I Organizational chart of COME --- p.159 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.160

Child poverty is a troubling issue over the world. Many scholars and professionals have devoted themselves to alleviating and eliminating child poverty. However, hundreds of millions of children in the world are still suffering from poverty. In China, poverty is a serious social problem. Chinese government did intervene heavily in poverty alleviation in the last decades. But so far, compared to other social problems, the scholars and policy-makers in China have paid less attention to the issue of child poverty. In light of these developments, this study, based on a children's right perspective, sets out to identify the basic characteristics of urban child poverty as well as the basic needs of poor children. Further, it gauges urban poverty's social, economic and psychological impacts on the children and effects of current social policies. Qualitative methodology, including in-depth interviews and focus group methods, is adopted in this study. Some 19 poor families were interviewed in 2006-2007. / The main findings of this research are as follows: (1) There is no access to health insurance which threatens poor urban children's survival and health; (2) Educational fees, especially expensive compulsory education, compromise the right of development on the basic of equal opportunity. In addition, the existence of key schools and classes gives rise to educational stratification; (3) Basic rights of survival, development and protection of poor urban children are satisfied to a certain extent, but the right of participation is overlooked; (4) Poor families take on too much burden to realize children's rights and needs. Although the government provides some assistance, current social policies have many problems to meet the basic needs and they could not satisfy the child rights due to absence of and ineffective policies, strategies and social services; (5) Support from families, especially from grandparents, is indispensable for children's needs and rights. / This research reviews international experiences to draw attention in China to child poverty as well as to family and adult poverty, which will be helpful to future studies on this issue. We believe the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a basic policy framework to guide the implementation of children's rights and government obligations in China. Actually, the Chinese government should take a more positive attitude towards child poverty. More children's living and developmental indices should be collated and added in national statistics and more studies on child poverty should be encouraged. Universal and low-charge public social services, including education, health, social work and other basic welfare services, should be provided. Safety net and incentive employment policy should be implemented to secure poor people and stimulate them to get rid of poverty by employment. In brief, as a state party of The Convention on the Rights of the Child, Chinese government should work out more concrete policies and strategies to show respect to children's rights, and children's rights can be adopted as Chinese child policy model in the future. / 姜妙屹. / Adviser: Kwong-Leung Tang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-09, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 350-392). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Jiang Miaoyi.

Poor urban Australians face a substantial health disadvantage: on average, they can expect to die earlier and suffer more physical disease, mental illness and injuries than wealthier Australians. This thesis examines the potential of one approach to reducing the problem of health disadvantage, namely, systematically intervening in disadvantaged locations. Such an approach is gaining support, especially in the United Kingdom and Australia; there is therefore a need to determine its possibilities and limitations. The thesis is written from the theoretical perspectives of critical social science and political economy of health. The research synthesises empirical data and critical analysis, combining findings from the health inequalities literature and analyses of contemporary political and economic contexts. It also includes two original studies: a quantitative analysis of the patterning of socio-economic disadvantage in Sydney suburbs, and a qualitative case study of a disadvantaged location: Mt Druitt, NSW. The health inequalities research shows that reducing health disadvantage is largely a question of reducing socio-economic disadvantage. A model of social exclusion is used to show how socio-economic disadvantage develops in capitalist societies. Following from this analysis, it is argued that a locational approach can have little impact on the macro political and economic antecedents of socio-economic and health disadvantage. Given these macro constraints, the thesis examines the possible ameliorative impact of a locational approach to health disadvantage here too, there are many limitations. A locational approach would have a limited population reach as most health disadvantaged people do not live in identifiably disadvantaged locations. Location itself creates only a modest independent burden on health, thus improving the amenity of disadvantaged locations will contribute little to reducing health disadvantage. In Australia, the creation of the most visibly disadvantaged urban locations is almost entirely a consequence of policies to concentrate public housing. Although it can be expected that locational interventions will be focused in these locations, there are substantial policy barriers to addressing the major socioeconomic determinants of health , low income, unemployment and sole parent poverty, in public housing estates, Location based policies to alleviate aspects of health and socio-economic disadvantage are assessed. In general locational policies and interventions have had a disappointing track record in buffering populations against issues such as poverty, unemployment and childhood disadvantage. Four specific policies are examined. There is a case to provide improved health services in disadvantaged locations. Measures to improve social capital or change the social mix of locations will have a very small, if any, impact on health. Early intervention in disadvantaged locations is rational in that the precursors of health and socioeconomic disadvantage occur in early life; however, population reach is limited and only the most expensive and intensive of these programs have produced good results. The case study of Mt Druitt shows that agencies are willing to implement a wide range of interventions to alleviate location based socio-economic and health disadvantage. Some of these interventions can be expected to have good results for some individuals. However, there is a lack of a systematic approach to problems in this location, and substantial barriers exist to creating widespread positive change. Overall, despite growing interest in a locational approach to addressing health disadvantage, and evidence of considerable energy at grass root level, a locational approach can be expected to contribute little to improving the health of socio-economically disadvantaged urban Australians. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-76).

The current longitudinal research examined the story-writing development of students from Grades 4 to 6 (N = 178). All students began formal schooling in English in Grade 1. Students were classified in Grade 4 as typical readers (scoring above the 40th percentile in both decoding and reading comprehension; n = 72), poor decoders (scoring below the 30th percentile in decoding; n = 53), or poor comprehenders (scoring above the 40th percentile on decoding but below the 30th percentile, relative to their language group, in reading comprehension; n = 26). Students who spoke English as a first language (EL1s) and English language learners (ELLs) were proportionally represented in each reading group. A series of repeated measures ANOVAs tested the effects of language and reading group on students’ cognitive, linguistic and literacy development. Despite the fact that ELLs did not achieve native-like English language proficiency, showing delays in vocabulary and reading comprehension, they matched their EL1 peers in all other areas of cognitive and literacy development, including story-writing. Both EL1s and ELLs developed story-writing skills in a similar manner, showing significant growth from Grade 4 to Grade 6. Typically developing ELLs were thus able to attain age-appropriate story-writing levels. Additionally, poor decoders and poor comprehenders generally showed similar profiles of strengths and weaknesses, regardless of whether English was their first or second language. The major difference was that ELL poor comprehenders were more likely to have longstanding reading comprehension problems, while many EL1 poor comprehenders had improved by Grade 6. In general, poor decoders displayed more pervasive difficulties across cognitive, linguistic and literacy domains, while poor comprehenders had specific weakness in nonverbal reasoning, receptive vocabulary and listening comprehension. Nevertheless, both reading disorder groups had significant difficulties in story-writing, struggling with the mechanics of writing, sentence structure, and overall story organization. Regression analyses indicated that cognitive, linguistic and language skills were strong concurrent and longitudinal predictors of story-writing. However, the strongest predictor of Grade 6 story-writing skill was Grade 4 story-writing performance, suggesting that story-writing skills tend to be relatively stable over time. The results generally support the ‘simple view of writing’ (Berninger, 2000). Practical recommendations for assessment and instruction are presented.

The current longitudinal research examined the story-writing development of students from Grades 4 to 6 (N = 178). All students began formal schooling in English in Grade 1. Students were classified in Grade 4 as typical readers (scoring above the 40th percentile in both decoding and reading comprehension; n = 72), poor decoders (scoring below the 30th percentile in decoding; n = 53), or poor comprehenders (scoring above the 40th percentile on decoding but below the 30th percentile, relative to their language group, in reading comprehension; n = 26). Students who spoke English as a first language (EL1s) and English language learners (ELLs) were proportionally represented in each reading group. A series of repeated measures ANOVAs tested the effects of language and reading group on students’ cognitive, linguistic and literacy development. Despite the fact that ELLs did not achieve native-like English language proficiency, showing delays in vocabulary and reading comprehension, they matched their EL1 peers in all other areas of cognitive and literacy development, including story-writing. Both EL1s and ELLs developed story-writing skills in a similar manner, showing significant growth from Grade 4 to Grade 6. Typically developing ELLs were thus able to attain age-appropriate story-writing levels. Additionally, poor decoders and poor comprehenders generally showed similar profiles of strengths and weaknesses, regardless of whether English was their first or second language. The major difference was that ELL poor comprehenders were more likely to have longstanding reading comprehension problems, while many EL1 poor comprehenders had improved by Grade 6. In general, poor decoders displayed more pervasive difficulties across cognitive, linguistic and literacy domains, while poor comprehenders had specific weakness in nonverbal reasoning, receptive vocabulary and listening comprehension. Nevertheless, both reading disorder groups had significant difficulties in story-writing, struggling with the mechanics of writing, sentence structure, and overall story organization. Regression analyses indicated that cognitive, linguistic and language skills were strong concurrent and longitudinal predictors of story-writing. However, the strongest predictor of Grade 6 story-writing skill was Grade 4 story-writing performance, suggesting that story-writing skills tend to be relatively stable over time. The results generally support the ‘simple view of writing’ (Berninger, 2000). Practical recommendations for assessment and instruction are presented.

In this essay I will analyze how the poor relief was used in Eskilstuna during the years of 1883 to 1913. In the records over who took allowance from the authorities it will also be mention the year of birth, which block the person lived in, sometimes if that person had any children, and if the person was a women it was often written down what profession the (often dead) husband have had when he was alive, or as an alternative what the fathers profession had been and finally its notified how much the person had every month in allowance. I want to see how the poor relief changed over time. I will do four close checkups, i choose the years 1883, 1893, 1903 and 1913. I will read in the records and compare how many it was that needed the poor relief for that year and further on I will mark out where these people was living in Eskilstuna city. For that propose I will use a map from 1890 and mark out every block in town that received the allowance. It will also be apparent how many persons that received the money from every block. With these maps I will create a easy overlooking view over which areas over Eskilstuna that was the most needed for poor relief. And then I can compare over time if a certain area of Eskilstuna always was poor or if it changed. And also I will be able to see if the number of people that needed that allowance increased when times got worse and the number decrease when times get better, in short - if the number of needed followed with the national economics situation in general. Further on I will look how much each person did receive in average and if possible try to go down to a individual level.

Bangladesh is known for two things: poverty and floods. It is a delta country burdened with draining large amounts of water from surrounding countries and a heavy monsoon season that have caused numerous severe floods with large scale destruction throughout the country. Rapid urbanization and migration have put an immense pressure on the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city and the largest urban centre of the country, is struggling to provide adequate housing and basic services for the urban poor who are forced to find accommodation in the flood-prone slums and squatter settlements of the city. The alarming rate of population growth further aggravates the problem of environmental degradation which in turn causes more severe floods. As one of the most vulnerable countries for climate change, Bangladesh must work towards providing flood-resilient, safe and affordable housing for all its citizens. My response was the LIFT (Low Income Flood-proof Technology) House: an affordable, flood-resilient housing solution for the low income families of Dhaka. The LIFT house consists of two amphibious structures that are capable of adapting to rising water levels. The amphibious structures float up on buoyant foundations during floods, and return to ground level when water recedes. It is a sustainable, environmentally friendly house that provides all basic services to its residents without connection to the city service systems, through the use of indigenous materials and local skills. This thesis documents the research, design, and construction of the LIFT house with funding provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The LIFT house was completed on January 2010 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and has become a symbol for the city’s desire to provide sustainable, low-cost accommodations that are protected from floods.