Abstract
Access to dignified housing represents a critical challenge for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Technical and economic constraints frequently lead homeowners in these countries toward incrementally-constructed homes, which are often proven deadly when exposed to seismic or meteorological hazards. This paper offers a holistic analysis of the informal residential construction industry contextualized in Léogâne, Haiti, the effective epicenter of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and offers an implementation framework geared towards integrating the housing delivery process to accommodate more resilient typologies. First, the concept of the housing ecosystem is introduced, and a thorough analysis of the technical, economic, and political factors that constrain this ecosystem in Haiti is presented. The defining elements of the resulting residential construction industry are then discussed: An informal blend of Design-Build and Master Builder methods of project delivery for incrementally-constructed (and largely masonry) permanent homes. The housing ecosystem is then redefined as a seven-step housing market value chain, and interventions to further strengthen and integrate this value chain are presented for each of the seven steps. Interventions are grounded in analogous contexts and refactored specifically for the Haitian case study scenario through extensive co-creation with stakeholders in Haiti. Particular focus is given to the Léogâne Community Building Fund, a concept designed to democratize housing finance for low to middle-income groups. When implemented in an integrated fashion, risks across this housing market value chain are effectively mitigated to sustainably deliver dignified housing through a market-based approach suitable for Haiti and extensible to other LMICs.
Highlights
It is estimated that 1.6 billion people worldwide lack adequate shelter [1]
Their websites and applications are all written in French, which is only spoken by 42% of the Haitian population and read by even fewer [62]
The Kredi Lojman Kominote Léogâne (KLKL), or Léogâne Community Building Fund, promotes use of existing family land distributed across the community rather than constructing a block of homes in a new development divorced from the community’s social fabric
Summary
It is estimated that 1.6 billion people worldwide lack adequate shelter [1]. The risk to human well-being posed by this massive deficit is only further exacerbated by climate change and trends in human migration, both forced displacements as well as a progressive influx of rural populations into urban centers. Coastal populations are especially susceptible to seismic hazards, as the majority of major fault lines lie along coastal boundaries [3] Despite these risks, humans are increasingly migrating towards coasts [4] and densely-populated urban centers [5]. It is important to note that these programs are far beyond the reach of most Haitians due to the loan requirements, which include multiple forms of official personal documents, life insurance, proof of sufficient income, and valid land title Their websites and applications are all written in French, which is only spoken by 42% of the Haitian population and read by even fewer [62]
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