This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/housing-network/2012/jul/13/asian-housing-crisis-land-security-low-cost-finance
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Asian housing crisis: slum conditions cannot be tackled by building | Asian housing crisis: slum conditions cannot be tackled by building |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Asia is home to more than 4 billion people, all needing a roof over their heads. According to the United Nations, 500 million people live in slums on the continent and that figure is growing. The housing crisis is increasing the demand on space and resources, and making more families vulnerable to disasters. | Asia is home to more than 4 billion people, all needing a roof over their heads. According to the United Nations, 500 million people live in slums on the continent and that figure is growing. The housing crisis is increasing the demand on space and resources, and making more families vulnerable to disasters. |
| Ensuring citizens have somewhere to live should be a top priority for Asian governments, the private sector and civil society. Devising and implementing a strategy for poverty housing is everybody's problem. | Ensuring citizens have somewhere to live should be a top priority for Asian governments, the private sector and civil society. Devising and implementing a strategy for poverty housing is everybody's problem. |
| Solving poverty housing is not a simple case of building more homes. The solution has to include land rights, infrastructure planning and provision of public services, with financial opportunities for citizens, such as taking out microloans or making small savings. | Solving poverty housing is not a simple case of building more homes. The solution has to include land rights, infrastructure planning and provision of public services, with financial opportunities for citizens, such as taking out microloans or making small savings. |
| Not owning the land on which you live makes you vulnerable to exploitation. It makes it hard to access services, and often means repeatedly uprooting your family. Residents of temporary settlements are moved to the outskirts of cities without transport infrastructure or alternative job opportunities – and so many just flock back. | Not owning the land on which you live makes you vulnerable to exploitation. It makes it hard to access services, and often means repeatedly uprooting your family. Residents of temporary settlements are moved to the outskirts of cities without transport infrastructure or alternative job opportunities – and so many just flock back. |
| Non-profit organisations have been working with local governments in Asia to find possible solutions. Progress is being made in Cambodia, a country where land rights are an emotive issue and violent evictions are commonplace. Habitat for Humanity is working with politicians in the country and the World Bank is collaborating on a project to help more than 300 families in Prek Preah Sdach commune in Battambang province receive a certificate of land ownership, giving land tenure security to low-income squatter families. | Non-profit organisations have been working with local governments in Asia to find possible solutions. Progress is being made in Cambodia, a country where land rights are an emotive issue and violent evictions are commonplace. Habitat for Humanity is working with politicians in the country and the World Bank is collaborating on a project to help more than 300 families in Prek Preah Sdach commune in Battambang province receive a certificate of land ownership, giving land tenure security to low-income squatter families. |
| Without a registered place to live or a credit history low-income families are seen as too risky by banks and so are unable to access loans or savings schemes. In India, banks and real estate companies have provided the capital to invest in local microfinance institutions through the MicroBuild India Fund. Through this scheme, they will be able to offer affordable loans to families for housing improvements. A microfinance bill now under debate in India is evidence of the government's commitment to regulating the industry to help benefit low-income families. | Without a registered place to live or a credit history low-income families are seen as too risky by banks and so are unable to access loans or savings schemes. In India, banks and real estate companies have provided the capital to invest in local microfinance institutions through the MicroBuild India Fund. Through this scheme, they will be able to offer affordable loans to families for housing improvements. A microfinance bill now under debate in India is evidence of the government's commitment to regulating the industry to help benefit low-income families. |
| But relying on a blossoming economy to trickle down and lead to improvements for the poor is far from being a fail-safe solution. For example, the Philippines has just seen poverty levels reach a new peak, despite a growing economy. A lot is being done to tackle Asia's housing crisis, but there is much more work ahead. | But relying on a blossoming economy to trickle down and lead to improvements for the poor is far from being a fail-safe solution. For example, the Philippines has just seen poverty levels reach a new peak, despite a growing economy. A lot is being done to tackle Asia's housing crisis, but there is much more work ahead. |
| Efforts to bring government, the private sector and civil society together, such as the biennial Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, are now being replicated in Europe and Latin America, with ideas being shared globally and action taken. The MicroBuild India Fund was born following discussions about the need for such a facility. | Efforts to bring government, the private sector and civil society together, such as the biennial Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, are now being replicated in Europe and Latin America, with ideas being shared globally and action taken. The MicroBuild India Fund was born following discussions about the need for such a facility. |
| Solutions for poverty housing have to be bespoke – tailored to each country. In the UK, we can also learn lessons from Asia. Change is happening; more is needed. /> />Rick Hathaway is Asia-Pacific vice president for Habitat for Humanity /> | |
| This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the housing network for more comment, analysis and best practice direct to you | This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the housing network for more comment, analysis and best practice direct to you |
Previous version
1
Next version