Understanding squatters and slums in the context of urban planning and development [compatibility mode]
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Squatters settle on land, especially public or unoccupied land, without legal right or title, whereas slums refer to highly congested urban areas marked by deteriorated housing and living conditions. The UN defines slums as neglected parts of cities with appallingly poor living conditions lacking basic services. While strategies in the past tried to address slums through public housing and upgrading, problems have grown due to various issues such as lack of funding, interest, and tenure security for squatters. Effective slum upgrading requires local participation, affordability, sustainability, and provision of basic infrastructure like sanitation, roads/drainage, and water supply.
Understanding squatters and slums in the context of urban planning and development [compatibility mode]
- 1. Understanding slums and squatters Rajendra P Sharma rpsharma@mailcity.com
- 2. Urban Squatters and Slums Settlements: What is the difference? "Slums" are highly congested urban areas marked by deteriorated, unsanitary buildings, poverty, and social disorganization. "Squatters" settle on land, especially public or unoccupied land, without right or"Squatters" settle on land, especially public or unoccupied land, without right or title. Squatters include those who settles on public land under regulation by the government, in order to get title to it. Simplifying • slums refer to the environmental aspects of the area where a community resides, while squatters refer to the legality of the land ownership and other infrastructure provision.
- 3. Types of slum 1. Degraded old planned urban areas 2. Unplanned informal squatter settlements2. Unplanned informal squatter settlements Most slum dwellers in the developing world live in this type of slum
- 4. What makes a residential area a slum? The low income (poverty) of who live there? The living conditions?The living conditions? The lack of basic urban services? Other aspects?
- 5. UN-Habitat definition of Slums: neglected parts of cities, in which living conditions are appallingly poorare appallingly poor
- 6. by looking in detail at one case, inside one city, rather than by analyzing/discussing in general ShankhamulShankhamul Ichangunarayan Kirtipur Pokhara
- 7. Size of the problem World population 2000 2030 (million) High-income countriesHigh-income countries Urban 800 900 Rural 200 200 Low(/middle)-income countries Urban 2000 4000 Rural 3000 3000
- 8. Urban population in slums Percentage of urban population living in slums Africa 61 (sub-sahara Africa 70)(sub-sahara Africa 70) Asia 42 Latin America & Car. 32 Oceania 24 Europe, N-America 6
- 9. Number of slum dwellers 2000: 920 million 2030: 2000 million ??2030: 2000 million ?? MDG: improve conditions for 100 million slum dwellers (??)
- 10. Past strategies to solve the problem of slums 1960/70: Public housing, resettlement 1970/80: Sites and services 1980 - : Slum upgrading1980 - : Slum upgrading 1990 - : Slum networking BUT THE PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN
- 11. WHY DID PROBLEMS GROW ? • Lack of money to do something about it? • Not knowing what to do ? • Lack of civil rights of slum dwellers ? • Lack of interest of slum dwellers ? • Resistance by slum-gangs, slum-lords ? • Lack of interest of decision makers ? • ….. ?
- 12. ISSUES If squatters are given tenure, will others be encouraged to move to the cities ?
- 13. ISSUES Why should slum dwellers be given tenure on valuable land in a city which would be better used for commercial development ?
- 14. ISSUES Why should single story or low rise upgrading be permitted on valuable central city land, which could be developed to a higher density ?central city land, which could be developed to a higher density ?
- 15. ISSUES If the slums are upgraded on private land, is public money being used to make the rich slumlords richer ?
- 16. ISSUES Do slum dwellers use their own resources to improve their living conditions ? Does public money need to be used ?
- 17. ISSUES What is the value to the citizens who do not live in slums, when upgrading slumswhen upgrading slums rather than demolishing them?
- 18. ISSUES Better living conditions involve: Housing, buildings Access and drainageAccess and drainage Sanitation Water supply Electricity Open spaces, trees
- 19. Issues Location: Is resettlement to distant locations far from city centersfar from city centers Is it in the interest of the slum dwellers ?
- 20. Issues What is the role of basic urban infrastructure in slum improvement ? Sanitation (excreta, sullage, solid waste) Access and drains Water supplyWater supply But what about improving the houses?
- 21. Do we have good technical answers ? What options do we have for: Sanitation facilities? Roads and drains ?Roads and drains ? Water supply? Are these affordable? (price tag) Are these sustainable? (keep functioning) How depend on density, soil, climate, …?
- 22. Experience Upgrading of slums and settlements is a viable and effective way to help the urban poor solve their need for shelter and a clean, safe and healthy living environment. Local participation is critical. Projects need to be designed from the bottom up working with communities so that the communities decide what levels of service they receive. Sustainability requires that consideration be given to the costs involved and to designing a level of service that is affordable to the community and to the local government. Programs must be derived from the city level and country strategies to achieve synergies with other supporting interventions addressing poverty in the country. Upgrading programs are most effective when led by the municipal authority and implemented at the community level through a broad set of intermediaries including community based organizations. Experience has taught us that the problem of getting basic services to slums can be solved at very reasonable costs if done properly.
- 23. What to do?
- 24. Focus Basic infrastructure provision as an instrument for slum upgrading (Integrated: sanitation, access and drainage, water supply)(Integrated: sanitation, access and drainage, water supply)
- 25. Steps Study the case Brief literature/internet search to find comparable cases and what has been done there (with or without success) Problem analysisProblem analysis Inventory of the basic infrastructure system and choices Assess of the different infrastructure, choices, and affordability
- 26. Differences between SLUMS and SQUATTERS Slum Squatters Yes Access to improved sanitation Yes Yes Access to safe water Yes Yes Durability of housing YesYes Durability of housing Yes Yes Sufficient living area Yes Yes Secure tenure No
- 27. Thank you