SlumsTed

• UN defines a slum – a heavily populated run down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking tenure security

• poorest quality housing, and the most unsanitary conditions

• a refuge for marginal activities including crime, ‘vice’ and drug abuse

• In developing world - refers to lower quality or informal housing

• Characteristicsi) Inadequate access to safe waterii) Inadequate access to sanitation and other

infrastructureiii) Poor structural quality of housigiv) Overcrowdingv) Insecure residential status

• Why They Existi) Rapid rural to urban migrationii) in urban povertyiii) Inequalityiv) Insecure tenurev) globalization

• 1 billion (1/7) of the world lives in slums• From 1990-2025 in % of people living in slums in

developed world (from 47% to 37%)• Growth of slums in developing world that by 2030 2

billion people will live in slums

• > half of all slum dwellers in developing world are Asian (Pakistani, Indian or Nepalese) world trends

• Slum household – a group of individuals living under the same roof in an urban area who lack one or more of the following:

i) Durable housing of a permanent nature (built on non-hazardous location) that protects against extreme climate conditions

ii) Sufficient living space – not more than 3 people sharing the same room

iii) Easy access to safe water in sufficient amounts and at affordable prices

iv) Access to adequate sanitation in the form of a private or public toilet shared by a reasonable number of people

v) Security of tenure that prevents forced evictions

i) Durable housing of a permanent nature (built on non-hazardous location) that protects against extreme climate conditions

• Hazardous location – A) geologically hazardous zones (earthquake, flood,

landslide areas)B) Garbage mountainsC) High-industrial pollution areasD) Other high risk zones (railroads, airports, energy

transmission lines)

• Durabilitya) Quality of construction (materials used for walls,

floor and roof)b) Compliance with local building codes, standards

and by-laws

ii) Sufficient living space – not more than 3 people sharing the same room

• Room defined as space in housing unit/living quarters enclosed by walls, reaching the floor to the ceiling/roof

• Height at list two meters (areas 4 m2)

iii) Easy access to safe water in sufficient amounts and at affordable prices• Affordable – should take up < 10% of family income• Sufficient amounts – at least 20 litres per person per

day• Easy Access – less than one hour per day

iv) Access to adequate sanitation in the form of a private or public toilet shared by a reasonable number of people

• Facilities should be shared by on 2 households• Septic system should have sufficient capacity in

order not to be clogged

v) Security of tenure that prevents forced evictions• Member of household owns housing unit• Member of household rents all or part of housing

unit• Member of household rents all or part of housing

unit as main tenant or subtenant

• Not all slums are the same and not all slum dwellers face same degree of deprivation

• Degree of deprivation depends on how many of the 5 conditions re prevalent within a slum household

• ~1/5 (20%) of slum households live in extreme poverty (lacking more than 3 shelter needs)

• Traditionally – slums are hosing areas that were once respectable – even – desirable – deteriorated after original dwellers moved on to new and better parts of the citySouth Central LA

• Detroit

• Today slums include informal settlements• Becoming most visible manifestations of urban

poverty in developing world cities

• Jakarta• Argentina• Bangkok• Portugal• Belgrade• Haiti

• Favelas – Brazil• Barrados – Peru• Barriors – Venezuela• Villas Miseria/villa de emergencia – Argentina• Champerios – EL Salvador• Slums – N. America & Europe• Shanty town – Africa, New Zealand, Caribbean• Rookery – England• Kampongs - Indonesia• Bidonvilles – Francophone countries• Informal Settlements• Squatter Settlements

• 2 broad types of slumsi) Slums of hope (on the rise)• Newer, self-built structures• Been through a process of development,

consolidation & improvement• Usually illegal (squatters)• Kenyai) Slums of Despair• Declining neighbourhoods – environrmental

conditions & services process of decay• Cleveland Dying City• Sacremento

• Traditionally slums housing areas that were once respectable – even – desirable – deteriorated after original dwellers moved on to new and better parts of the city

• Hooverville• Bushville• Toronto's Tenty City