Housing

Slums range from high density, central city housing blocks to spontaneous informal settlements, sprawling at the edge of cities. They are generally overcrowded, lack reliable facilities and provide for few key necessities. Without legal recognition or regulation, slums become breeding grounds for inequality and exploitation. Insecurity of tenure puts residents at constant risk of eviction and heightens their vulnerability to a host of environmental, political and financial threats.

Existing housing stock in most urban centers is highly inadequate in terms of both quantity and durability. Poor urban housing accounts for a large share of ill-health, early deaths and the persistence of chronic poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, the contribution of slum-dwellers to the broader economy shouldn’t be overlooked, as they constitute the core of the urban labour force. The political will to foster efficient and affordable housing delivery systems, and develop appropriate legislative measures to ensure the security of urban residents, is therefore essential.