Housing Shortage Research Articles

Exploring the Use of Lean, Offsite and Simulation in Housing Delivery: Evidence from the UK

The subpar performance of housing construction projects has been attributed to their reliance on traditional construction methods. In response to this issue, numerous innovative approaches, including modern methods of construction (MMC), have been employed to facilitate the execution of housing projects. The present study explores the use of MMC, specifically lean, offsite, and simulation (LOS) techniques, in delivering housing construction projects within the United Kingdom. Employing a qualitative research approach, eighteen relevant stakeholders from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland were interviewed to fulfil the study’s purpose. The findings demonstrate that the integration of LOS techniques is advantageous in the delivery of housing construction projects. Moreover, governmental support, collaboration, leadership, training, stakeholder engagement, and environmental consideration were identified as critical factors facilitating the implementation of LOS in housing project delivery. This study provides valuable insights into the key factors that support the adoption of LOS techniques within the UK context and can serve as a guide for stakeholders in the future use of LOS in the UK housing sector. Furthermore, the empirical and qualitative evidence presented on the application of lean, offsite, and simulation (LOS) in housing delivery in the UK can contribute to efforts to address the country’s housing shortage.

Dampak Urbanisasi Dalam Kehidupan Masyarakat Kota

In this article, the impact of urbanization on the lives of the people of Serang City is discussed. This article identifies various impacts due to urbanization through research and analysis carried out. Urbanization in Serang City affects many aspects of community life and the environment. One of the main effects of urbanization in Serang City is changes in land use. Green spaces and agricultural land have been converted into housing, shopping centers, offices and other urban infrastructure. Thus, productive agricultural land is reduced, biodiversity is lost, and environmental damage occurs. With economic growth and development of urban infrastructure, public services, and access to education, urbanization increases employment opportunities for local residents. However, urbanization also brings social and lifestyle changes, which can influence cultural values, daily habits, and social interaction patterns. With demand for housing increasing and a shortage of affordable housing. Apart from that, changes that occur in urban infrastructure and the impact they have on infrastructure access and traffic must also be considered. The method in this research uses qualitative interview techniques. By gaining a better understanding of these impacts, it is hoped that sustainable solutions can be developed to exploit the positive potential of urbanization and overcome the problems faced by the people of Serang City.

Exploring the opportunities in circular design as an affordable housing solution in Nigeria

Abstract The shortage of adequate housing is caused by global challenges such as urbanisation, economic instability, pandemics, and displacements. Additionally, the building sector is resource-intensive, leading to the emergence of the circular economy (CE) that is focused on resource efficiency. The design stage plays a central role in the CE model. However, circular housing design (CHD) in Nigeria has not been thoroughly explored. This study examined the opportunities for implementing CHD in Nigeria. Through a desk review approach, relevant data from the critical review of selected articles from reputable databases in the last five years were synthesized and incorporated into the study. The findings revealed that the adoption of CHD in Nigeria can assist in achieving affordability, decarbonisation, climate change mitigation, improving environmental value, energy optimisation, resource efficiency, and urban mining. More specifically, it will stimulate sustainability in the housing sector, digitalisation, technical expertise development, policies and regulations, land provision, coordination and collaboration, local voluntary stewardship programme, and new market opportunities in housing delivery in Nigeria. There is a need to develop technical skills in CHD through knowledge sharing among design professionals via multi-stakeholder collaborations and investment in technologies, as well as adopting integrated circular project delivery methods in the supply chain.

Getting off the waiting list? Managing housing assistance provision in an era of intensifying social housing shortage

Getting off the waiting list? Managing housing assistance provision in an era of intensifying social housing shortage

Breathing space in a compact city: Impacts of urban re-densification on Mumbai's low-income housing environment

Redevelopment of low-income settlements by re-densifying cities is a common approach in the Global South to improve living conditions and tackle the housing shortage. However, the effectiveness of the housing design in redevelopment schemes remains to be questioned. This study evaluates a proposed design of a slum redevelopment project in Mumbai, India, by comparing the environmental performance of three design schemes: the existing low-income housing, the redevelopment scheme proposed by the local government and a hypothetical design (modified scheme) that aligns with positive environmental outcomes identified in the current literature. The environmental factors such as the natural airflow, incident solar radiation and daylighting parameters were assessed by computational simulations and validated by a wind tunnel experiment. These factors were associated with direct and indirect density metrics of the three design schemes to inform better policymaking for slum redevelopment projects that seek to re-densify housing for the urban poor. The results indicated that the design performance of the redeveloped scheme is less preferable due to the unclean indoor air and inadequate daylighting conditions requiring large-scale demolition of the existing buildings. The modified plan requires minimal demolishment and demonstrates relatively better environmental performance. The study revealed that indirect density measures - building geometry factors and urban form parameters - are essential in affecting the ecological performance of housing. Considering these factors in design standards and policymaking for high-density redevelopment schemes can enable the “Goldilocks density” that significantly improves the quality of living while densifying the cities.

How do local governments respond to central mandate in affordable housing policy? A qualitative comparative analysis of forty-one Chinese cities

Countries in developed and developing worlds have faced growing challenges to solve affordable housing shortages for lower-income households, prompting the adoption of various types of mandates to compel local implementation of affordable housing policy. A large volume of literature has focused on whether and how such top-down mandate indeed improves local supply of affordable housing. Insufficient understanding has been provided regarding the multi-faceted nature of local strategic responses to a top-down housing mandate. This research addresses this intellectual gap with an empirical study of local strategic behavior in response to the affordable housing mandate that was announced by the central government during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011–2015). Through systematic content analysis of local news reports on affordable housing from 41 Chinese cities from various provinces, we describe the multiple-dimensional characteristics of local policy actions as cities were compelled to complied with the mandate. We further employ a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method to investigate how top-down political pressure combines with local policy interpretation, resource mobilization capacity, and local public pressure lead to more diverse policy actions in affordable housing. This research enriches the understanding of how city governments respond to top-down housing mandate, as well as offers valuable policy implications for affordable housing policy.

City growth and its impact on residential problems: A case study in the city of Jakarta

This study aims to examine housing and settlement problems, especially in the Jakarta area as a result of population growth which has caused a very large population by identifying the number of housing needs and housing deficits. This study takes the object of the city of Jakarta as a case study and focuses on the housing sector which includes 2731 residential neighborhoods (RW) where the city occupies an area of 664.01 km2. Studies show the cause of the problem is caused by relatively stable city growth with a growth rate of around 1% over the past 20 years, which is reflected in the number of families, which amount to 3,627,111 families, with a housing density of 5462 families/km2, living in 2,242,163 housing units. The findings show that another cause is the spread of slum settlements in the city, which total 445 RWs, which means 16.30% of the total RWs. The results of the research show that so far, the problem has not been resolved.

Transformation of the Saudi Housing Sector through an Enabling Approach to Affordable Housing

Access to affordable housing has a significant impact on the quality of lives of households and the overall well-being of communities. The enabling approach is recognized internationally as a mechanism for housing delivery, shifting the government’s role from that of a direct provider to that of an enabler within housing markets. In line with its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to transition its role from a direct housing provider to an enabler. This study aimed to assess the extent to which enabling strategies have been implemented within the Saudi Arabian context. This research was conducted based on a desktop study of the key literature, analysis of secondary data, and content analysis of the collected documents to address the research aim. The study found that housing costs, traditional land tenure, and insufficient financing are major housing challenges, intensified by high lending interest, lack of investor diversity in housing types, and lack of long-term funding from financiers. Also, slum developments are limited to providing street access, without addressing the overall conditions and the level of services. In addition, the costs of obtaining permits and implementing building regulations have contributed to housing shortages in the country. On the other hand, real estate developers of different scales undergo a classification and qualification system to increase their capacity for housing supply. To address these challenges, the Saudi government has implemented an enabling approach, serving as a provider for low-income and vulnerable groups through the Developmental Housing Program. The government also encourages local manufacturing of building materials to boost the construction industry. The present study recommends that the government enhance existing instruments to enable access to affordable housing.

The Effects of Urbanization and Economic Growth on The Igarapes of the Legal Amazon

This study shows the primary mechanisms causing alteration and degradation of water bodies. Data analysis on the condition of urban streams in the Eastern Amazon (53,8%) shows that Pará state is the most affected (n = 67,8%). The Almas and Mata Fome creeks in the Bengui neighborhood have undergone the most significant and irreversible environmental changes. Similarly, the Paragominas stream is experiencing ongoing harm due to urban and economic expansion. In the Western Amazon (46,1%) and Amazonas state (9.5±4.9), research on 16 streams says a housing shortage and an increase in peripheral development along these water bodies. Urbanization and economic growth are altering the ecosystem functions of urban streams, highlighting the urgent need for water management authorities in the legal Amazon region to focus on this issue.

Gimme Shelter

In this "Letter from Woodstock," our columnist looks at the acute shortage of affordable housing for National Park Service employees — a problem that is affecting recruitment and retention of agency staff, both permanent and seasonal.

For the greater good: modern China’s struggle on housing shortage

The examination of housing shortages in China presents a fascinating subject that is rarely directly addressed. This topic not only captures our interest due to the irony in a communist country but also in light of the profound transformation of Chinese society, evolving from an agrarian civilization to a modern industrialized state. The objective of this essay is to establish a comprehensive framework that encompasses economic, social, and architectural narratives as an integrated whole. This essay delves into the historical trajectory of housing shortages in modern China, tracing the evolution of this issue within Chinese society since the founding of the communist regime in 1949. Given China’s unique industrial and residential policy framework, housing provision is intrinsically linked to state-owned factories and residential certification, commonly referred to as hukou. As the political and economic foundations have shifted over time, so too has the root cause of housing shortages. In addition to general historical and theoretical research, we have undertaken an in-depth examination of Lanxi City, one of the industrial clusters established in China. The case study of Lanxi City involves a series of visits and interviews conducted within local factories and communities. Our analysis identifies two distinct phases in this evolution: the “fundamentalist communist era” and the transitional period toward a market economy. Each of these eras can be further subdivided into four distinct phases, providing a more nuanced perspective. Our findings reveal that various housing distribution mechanisms have contributed to the issue of housing shortages. During the first era, housing shortages were primarily a result of hukou restrictions, industrial disparities, sluggish construction processes, and corporate profit considerations. In the latter phase, spanning the 1980s and 1990s, housing shortages were exacerbated by escalating costs and a slow rate of housing unit replenishment. As the new millennium unfolded, real estate bubbles compounded the housing crisis, with older neighborhoods ill-suited for modern living. Our interviews and visits complemented our literature research, offering valuable insights into the systemic exploitation of specific groups in pursuit of broader goals, hence the title. This paper underscores the housing shortage in China as a consequence of economic disparities between urban and rural regions, as well as between the prosperous East coast and the underdeveloped West hinterland.

Embodied Energy and Thermal Performance of Alternate Walling Materials in Affordable Housing in the Composite Climate of Delhi

Meeting the affordable housing shortage in India in a short time has its environmental and social challenges. It not only requires huge resources but is also a big social responsibility to provide economical and comfortable housing for the marginalized section of society. Improper selection of construction materials may lead to the locking up of massive energy as embodied energy of materials and uncomfortable indoor living conditions. The present study focuses on the need for consideration of both embodied energy and thermal performance in the selection of materials for the building envelope in naturally ventilated affordable housing in India. Walling materials form a major part of the building envelope and thus it's crucial to assess their performance. This paper presents an analysis of embodied energy and thermal performance of fly ash Bricks, AAC blocks, and RCC precast panels as walling options in comparison to conventional walling material of burnt clay brick in the composite climate zone of Delhi. This analysis is being carried out for the alternate walling solutions in practice or emerging for mid to high-rise EWS housing construction in this region. The embodied energy values per cubic meter are compared for each wall assembly for the lifecycle stage cradle to gate. Thermal simulation results are presented in terms of indoor operative temperatures achieved by each wall type material and compared with the comfort temperature range prescribed by the comfort model IMAC-R, 2022 to find out the ‘discomfort degree hours’. The results of the study underscore the suitability of fly ash bricks and AAC blocks as sustainable alternatives due to their lower embodied energy compared to traditional burnt clay bricks base case. Fly ash bricks even outperform the base case in terms of thermal comfort. The study discourages the use of burnt clay bricks due to very high embodied energy. The study also strongly discourages the use of RCC panels in the composite climate as they exhibit both poor thermal comfort and high embodied energy. The study findings would help government agencies to make environmentally and socially conscious decisions about the use of walling materials on a large scale in meeting the affordable housing demand.

Community Participation in Urban Land and Housing Delivery: Evidence from Kerala (India) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)

Current approaches to the provision of shelter, largely driven by national governments and/or the commercial private sector, continue to fall short of what is needed to reduce housing deficits. The number of people without access to adequate housing continues to grow, especially in cities of the Global South. Increasing attention is being paid to alternative models for organizing land and housing delivery, such as those led by, or at least including, civil society. In this paper, we consider two national land and housing programs—the 20,000 Plots Project in Tanzania, and Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) in India—alongside community-led housing initiatives from each country. We explore the extent to which community participation in housing delivery can have social and environmental advantages when compared to ‘business as usual’ methods and find that, given appropriate state support, community-based, and civil society actors (including organizations of the urban poor) have significant potential to contribute to acquiring land, building homes and improving the quality of life of vulnerable segments of the population. This paper echoes calls for community-led housing to become a recognized part of formal housing policy whilst emphasizing the need for theoretical refinement of the process so as to prevent it from being captured by prevailing market-led narratives.

Is Development Type a Determinant of College and Graduate Students’ Commute Time to School? The Case of Seoul Metropolitan Area

This study examines the impact of large-scale suburban new town development on the commuting time of college and graduate students in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Household travel diary data from 2016 were analyzed to categorize residential areas and quantify the impacts on commute time to school. Multiple linear regression modeling is used to explore the relationships between development type, individual, and household characteristics and their impact on commute times. The results of the study show that students living in new urban areas have significantly longer commute times than those living in central Seoul, highlighting the differences that result from urban expansion policies targeting middle-class housing. These results suggest that the development of suburban new towns, which was intended to alleviate the housing shortage, has inadvertently lengthened the daily commute time of many students. Thus, a critical reassessment of suburban development strategies is needed to better balance the advantages of residential neighborhoods against the educational and living costs associated with increased travel time.

The Development of the Berliner as a Political Person under the Influence of the Urban Cultural Environment

Introduction. The article explores the reasons for the emergence of ethnic diversity in the city of Berlin, encompassing political, historical, geographical, anthropological, and sociological aspects of the urban environment. It also outlines the current issues in German society that shape the political culture of its people. The relevance of the topic is driven by the political radicalization of migrants in Germany, particularly in Berlin, resulting from cultural globalization that impacts traditional political institutions and behavioral models of the city's residents. The crisis of the liberal-democratic model and the increase in the number of Eurosceptics also play a significant role in the transformation of the political culture of contemporary Berliners. Solving the problem of political radicalization of migrants is equally important for the Russian Federation, especially in St. Petersburg, combining characteristics of the European urban environment and the polyethnic Russian state, whose residents consider themselves Russians despite national and cultural differences. Methodology and sources. The research is grounded in Ernest Burgess's model of concentric zones. The study relies on research methods such as synthesis, comparison, analysis, and sociological approaches. Data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the results of the 2016 elections to the Berlin House of Deputies, the 2021 elections, and the subsequent 2023 elections, historical data, and findings from other researchers on the topic served as sources for the study. Results and discussion. The study identifies features of urban culture shaping the polyethnic Berlin society, including the ethnic diversity of residents, unique self-identification of Berliners, the presence of distinct urban districts, squatter movements, and the influence of architectural and spatial characteristics on the formation of human social behavior. Some city problems were also highlighted, such as the crisis of formation of a distorted perception of right and left currents among Berliners, the failure of multiculturalism policies, the migration crisis, and housing shortages. Conclusion. The development of a Berliner as a political being is influenced by the characteristics of the urban environment and certain issues facing the city, where the residential district, properties of the city's political culture, and ethnic background impact the political views of its inhabitants

Profiling Housing Co-operative Models in Addressing Shortage of Affordable Housing in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Profiling Housing Co-operative Models in Addressing Shortage of Affordable Housing in Nairobi City County, Kenya

The Housing Shortage Is Still Out There

The Housing Shortage Is Still Out There

Where Is the Housing Shortage? Reply to Respondents

Where Is the Housing Shortage? Reply to Respondents

What Is a Housing Shortage?

The United States has faced decades of increasing housing costs and declining construction. Many scholars and policymakers argue that additional supply is necessary to combat inadequate availability. Some critics, however, argue that the nation faces no housing shortage except for extremely low-income renters, which could be addressed by leveraging the existing stock and expanding the availability of rental vouchers. I argue instead for a continued emphasis on increasing supply as a mechanism to improve housing conditions. I show, first, that additional housing stock is associated with more units per additional resident in an area. Second, I demonstrate that increasing supply is positively associated with lower housing cost growth, though other issues, like household income growth, are likely more important variables in explaining affordability. Finally, I contest the use of metropolitan geographies as the most appropriate level for examining housing affordability, given the nation’s history of segregation and variation in access to opportunity.

Az urbanizáció kérdései Kirgizisztánban: Biskek új települései

Urbanization in Kyrgyzstan, in particular the capital city of Bishkek faces the rapid growth of new settlements that often outpaces the developmental issues such as infrastructure, housing shortages, social services, employment, environmental impact, cultural and social integration, security, land ownership and property rights. These issues can be complex, and lead to disputes and uncertainty for residents. This can hinder development in new settlements. Efforts to address these urbanization issues in new settlements around Bishkek city should involve comprehensive urban planning, infrastructure development, land management, and social policies. It's essential to ensure that urbanization contributes to improved living conditions and opportunities for all residents, fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.