Housing Shortage Research Articles

Urban, Environmental and Habitability Parameters for Social Housing

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to propose a set of parameters for urban, environmental, and habitability impacts for the feasibility analysis of social housing projects. Theoretical framework: Given the historical housing deficit, the large scale of social housing segment has been challenging managers in terms of environmental (volume of inputs, energy, waste), economic (high investment), and social (urban relations) impacts. Thus, efficiency in the performance of Social Housing Projects is a relevant aspect, regarding the importance that housing represents in users’ lives. Method/design/approach: The research strategy used was case studies, using 12 social housing projects built in Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre. The parameters analyzed refer to urban, environmental and habitability impact, based on data collected in loco, seeking to identify the main variables that influence each one, categorized as greater, medium or smaller influence. Results and conclusion: The variables with the most significant impact were: (i) mobility, access to opportunities, degree of localism, and social networks (urban parameters); (ii) index of compactness of the buildings and place of manufacture of the materials (environmental parameters); (iii) bioclimatic zone, facade color, window size, architectural type, and (iv) construction system (living parameters). Research implications: The proposed parameters may be helpful to public authorities (funders/inspectors), designers/builders (executors), and academics (theoretical/technical support) as a guide to more efficient social housing solutions involving the construction of programs, guidelines for public notices, parameters assessment, among others. Originality/value: The study contributes to the existing literature by encompassing a systemic approach to EHIS, being propositional through parameters that integrate issues related to construction and urban performance.

Climatic conditions as a guideline to mass customisation in Brazilian housing

Reducing the housing deficit is a vital issue to be addressed in developing countries. Although government programmes in Brazil aim to reduce it, there is criticism regarding the housing design, especially about their poor thermal performance. Guaranteeing high levels of thermal performance in affordable housing is expected to improve occupants’ satisfaction and reduce energy consumption. Therefore, this article aims to propose a system to develop solutions for designing a housing-unit module that enables adaptation to climate, topography, and site plan, as well as flexibility regarding expansions and changes in the pattern of use. Guidelines were created to develop the adaptable housing unit framework, which was programmed in Grasshopper to allow parametric design. One of the possible compositions was simulated using EnergyPlus and Ladybug Tools to determine suitable envelope characteristics for different climates. This process relied on multicriteria analyses to determine the best solution considering cooling and heating degree hours. Thermal performance simulation results show that the envelope solution for Florianópolis differs from that for São Joaquim, even with the same shape composition. While Florianópolis has lower wall absorptance and brick walls as the best solution, São Joaquim requires insulated walls and higher wall absorptances. The main conclusion is that such a framework is more feasible than a single solution because the design might be adapted according to problems identified a priori. This outcome is expected to guide practitioners toward sustainable development, considering the vital role that affordable housing plays in Brazil.

Rent affordability after hurricanes: Longitudinal evidence from US coastal states.

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural hazards such as hurricanes. With a severe shortage of affordable housing in the United States, renters may be uniquely vulnerable to disaster-related housing disruptions due to increased hazard exposure, physical vulnerability of structures, and socioeconomic disadvantage. In this work, we construct a panel dataset consisting of housing, socioeconomic, and hurricane disaster data from counties in 19 states across the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States from 2009 to 2018 to investigate how the frequency and intensity of a hurricane correspond to changes in median rent and housing affordability (the interaction between rent prices and income) over time. Using a two-stage least square random-effects regression model, we find that more intense prior-year hurricanes correspond to increases in median rents via declines in housing availability. The relationship between hurricanes and rent affordability is more complex, though the occurrence of a hurricane in a given year or the previous year reduces affordable rental housing, especially for counties with higher percentages of renters and people of color. Our results highlight the multiple challenges that renters are likely to face following a hurricane, and we emphasize that disaster recovery in short- and medium-term should focus on providing safe, stable, and affordable rental housing assistance.

What's Good in the (Neighbour)Hood? Examining the Wellbeing of Urban Regeneration using Administrative Data

New Zealand (NZ) faces substantial housing challenges with a housing crisis brought on by housing shortages, rising housing costs, poor quality stock and overcrowding issues. Kāinga Ora is the primary government agency responsible for social housing and urban development in New Zealand. It has made significant investments towards increasing the housing supply, with plans to increase housing supply by 40,000 homes in the next 15 years. Over 90% of Kainga developments are in NZ’s largest city, Auckland, with 90% of those dwellings being social housing. These investments aim to improve wellbeing, liveability, social connections, and place-based identity through the provision of affordable homes, shared community spaces and active transport options. Urban regeneration has the potential to alleviate our housing burden and thereby have positive long-term impacts on community wellbeing. The purpose of this research is to identify and quantify the wellbeing impacts of urban regeneration in NZ. Evaluations of major urban developments are often overlooked, resulting in uncertainty about the long-term effects of urban regeneration on the community. There is substantial scope for comprehensive empirical research that provides social return-on-investment information. To this end, this research empirically estimates the impact of urban regeneration on wellbeing. New Zealand has adopted a well-being approach that supports public policy advice. The use of “big data” allows researchers to derive data-driven evidence to support this advice. The wellbeing framework used in this research draws on the NZ Treasury’s Living Standards Framework (LSF). Wellbeing outcomes of urban regeneration are grouped across three domains: (1) human capital – education and labour market outcomes; (2) physical and mental health and (3) crime and safety. Wellbeing outcomes in this research are constructed from administrative data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), administered by StatsNZ, which houses a wide range of administrative and survey data collected from government organisations.

An exploration of the use of accessory dwelling units for senior housing in Honolulu

The island of Oahu (Honolulu County, Hawai’i) is facing a shortage of housing for its growing senior population. The construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or small, second homes built on the same lot. for senior housing may be a possible solution. A qualitative document review was utilized to examine the existing Honolulu ADU cost reduction for those wishing to build an ADU on their properties for the purposes of senior housing. There were several publications and articles found through the search. From these articles, four major themes emerged: tax breaks, financing options, green building, and sharing of utilities. These themes led to a secondary level document review and analysis of each of these themes.

Enabling Private Investment in Affordable Housing in Nigeria: Lessons from the Experience of the Millard Fuller Foundation Projects in Nasarawa State

Despite the shift to private sector-driven affordable housing in Nigeria for decades, the housing deficit has continued to increase to the disadvantage of low-income families. This paper explores the enabling strategies for stimulating private-driven affordable housing in Nigeria. A case study of the Millard Fuller Foundation projects was undertaken, and semi-structured interviews were administered to 12 residents of the estates and the developer to explore their experience and highlight the considerations for designing appropriate strategies. The data generated were analysed using thematic analysis with the support of Nvivo. This study identifies four major components of construction costs—land, design, materials, and finance—that policy improvement can target to stimulate private investment. It shows that developers are likely to adopt practices that will reduce these costs with repercussions for end-users. Mindful of this, and the concern to make returns on investment, strategies should aim to harmonise both developers’ interest and that of the end-users through widespread infrastructural development to make land available in all locations, and an incremental owner-building approach so that end-users can take decisions for their housing. Furthermore, access to National Housing Fund (NHF) mortgages should be enhanced by recognising supplementary incomes in the loan origination procedures.

Exploring the Challenges Faced by the Urban Squatter Dwellers in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia has experienced rapid urbanization, leading to congestion and a shortage of adequate housing. For those who cannot afford housing due to the high prices of houses, such as marginalized and low-income groups, squatting becomes an alternative for viable housing solutions. Many have moved into urban squatter zones in search of alternate housing. Drawing on Malaysia as a case study, this study explores the challenges urban squatter dwellers face and how it affects their well-being. This study used Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Delphi Techniques to conduct in-depth interviews with fourteen key informants in Kuala Lumpur. It analyzed the results using the thematic analysis method. Findings revealed that they faced challenges associated with social issues, housing quality, housing environment, and finances. These challenges have affected their safety, comfort, social relationships, and health. It is suggested that the government should adequately design inclusive policies and programs to resolve this predicament and enhance these dwellers’ quality of life. Since studies on urban squatters in Malaysia are scarce, this study provides insight into the country’s urban poverty problem. Furthermore, the findings can be applied to other developing countries with characteristics like Malaysia.

A geopolitics of mud construction: Self-help and the CINVA-Ram machine in Ghana and South Vietnam during the Cold War

In 1951, the Organization of American States established the Centro Interamericano de Vivienda y Planeamiento (CINVA) to provide specialized training to tackle the housing problem. Based on archival documentation examined at the Rockefeller Archive Center and the Central and Historical Archive of the National University of Colombia, this article explores two significant episodes in which the story of one of the Center's most successful outputs connects to the history of the Cold War. It thus contributes to the literature investigating the architecture and related technologies of development aid in the historical context of the Cold War with a precise focus on the role of non-governmental actors. After detailing the history of the CINVA-Ram machine, the pressing machine to produce rammed-earth blocks developed at the Center and later exported to America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, the article explores its deployment in two different fronts of the Cold War: Ghana and South Vietnam. As highlighted in the conclusions, the significance of CINVA-Ram use in these contexts is manyfold. Firstly, its diffusion, although appearing as a successful case of south-to-south cooperation, was in fact possible because of the Rockefeller family-controlled IBEC's involvement. Secondly, it shows the global outreach of the intertwined action of governmental agencies, private companies, and NGOs, when fighting poverty and housing shortage via aided self-help initiatives were complementary strategies to the armed containment of Communism. Finally, it discusses the role played by US governmental and non-governmental actors in advancing US interests through technoscience, highlighting how the battle against poverty in the so-called “Third World” was in this case fought with one of the oldest and simplest construction techniques in the ideological framework of self-help.

Alaska

Alaska’s FY2022 budget priorities for education remained unchanged, with funding for P–12 education in first place and the University of Alaska system in fourth. In addition to funding, Alaska directed the creation of new literacy programs, allowed opportunities for State–Tribal Education Compact Schools, and established a separate fund in the treasury to protect funds for the university system. A change to the funding formula for P–12 was realized in an increase in Base Student Allocation for FY2023, the first increase since FY2017. Alaska faces pressing issues with shortages of teachers and housing, as well as the high costs of goods and services across the state.

가로주택정비사업 활성화를 위한 법적 개선과제

It can be evaluated that our housing administration has contributed to solving the absolute shortage of housing. However, it has caused numerous side effects, including speculative investment in real estate, threats of housing rights for the common people, and intensification of extreme disputes among residents over business promotion.
 Recently, due to these side effects, the Urban Renewal Projects, such as large-scale urban maintenance projects as in the past, have been greatly reduced. Paradoxically, however, as the housing supply decreased, another social problem occurred, such as the increase in the number of deteriorated housings, vacant houses, and the acceleration of slumming in the region.
 To resolve these problems, the government introduced The Street Housing Improvement Project through a revision of ｢Act on the Improvement of Urban Areas and Residential Environments｣(2012) and a legislation of ｢Act on Special Cases Concerning Unoccupied House or Small-scale Housing Improvement｣(2018). It is faster than the existing readjustment project and has the advantage of increasing the resettlement rate of indigenous people.
 However, It is necessary to review the public work of the reconstruction project and the housing improvement project in a city block, examine whether the legislation is valid or not, focusing on legal issues that compare between the expropriation and request for Sale. In determining the public work of reconstruction projects and housing improvement project in a city block, the expropriation violates the principle of proportionality.
 Therefore, in order to improve these problems, above all, it is necessary to increase business feasibility by expanding the size of the business. In addition, rather than the immediacy of the project, it is necessary to create a system such as the Dispute Mediation Committee, that can mediate conflicts between residents.
 Of course, some of the above improvements will not be able to activate Street-Housing Redevelopment Projects. Basically, in order for Street-Housing Redevelopment Projects to properly settle down and achieve their original purpose, the street-housing maintenance project must be converted to an Actual Residence perspective, The society will need a great transition of perspective from “immediacy and efficiency effectiveness” to “safety and happiness” and “the aesthetics of slowness”.

주택법제에서 공법의 기능과 공동주택 관리

The traditional housing law system of Korea centered on supply and demand, which was formed against the background of rapid urbanization and population growth, could no longer be maintained as the housing supply rate exceeded 100% and the country entered a rapidly declining population. The changed social structure is demanding institutional transformation in the direction of boldly abandoning the ‘construction promotion act’ system in Korean housing legislation, remodeling old apartments, and delicately managing apartments. It is time to discuss the reform direction of the fundamental structure of the housing law system through social consensus and discussion. In this article, we reviewed the process of introducing the institutional function of the current housing law system and its social background, following the historical process of the formation of the framework of Korea's housing law system. When the social reality, which is the foundation of the housing legislation, changes, the function and system of the norm cannot help but change accordingly. In this article, we looked at the achievements of adaptation to the current legislation and future tasks under the premise that the center of gravity of Korean housing law system will inevitably shift to the ‘management function of apartment housing’ for a considerable period of time in the future. The change in Korean society, which has escaped from the desperate housing shortage and is entering a declining population, is an institutional challenge, but on the other hand, it can act as an opportunity to improve the quality of the city. We look forward to the rebirth of the housing law system that upgrades our apartment buildings to a more pleasant environment and a space with efficient and reasonable functions including informatization, away from the perspective of the development era.

The Hidden Facets: Uncovering the Influence of Region on Social Housing Unit Distribution in Brazil

The Brazilian housing program, Minha Casa, Minha Vida (MCMV) (My House, My Life), was launched in 2009 to address the housing deficit issue, with the goal of distributing contracted housing units throughout the Brazilian territory. However, the program faces criticisms regarding the distribution of these units. Thus, this paper aims to analyze the distribution heterogeneity of these contracted housing units (CHUs). Two analytical approaches were employed: temporal and spatial (states). To achieve this objective, inferential methods such as Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Spatial Autoregressive Model (SAR), and panel data regressions were employed. The findings indicate that, from a temporal perspective, there is a positive relationship between the urban housing deficit (UHD) and CHUs. However, the relationship is negative from a spatial perspective, characterizing such heterogeneity among the states. In addition, bordering regions are subject to mutual spatial influences in terms of contracted units, thereby reinforcing this heterogeneity over time.

Forms of Terms of Contract for Maintenance of Public Buildings

Housing is essential to the development and progress of a country. In Malaysia, the government has implemented numerous programmes to promote home ownership in response to the housing shortage. However, problems with building performance and condition continue to increase due to defects in the housing stock. This study examined the forms of procurement for building maintenance management for public housing by interviewing eight maintenance managers. According to the data, specialised contracts, repair and maintenance and fixed-term contracts are the most common forms of maintenance contracts.

Evaluation of the Geotechnical Properties of Cubitermes sp and Macrotermes sp Termite Mound Soils for the Manufacture of Earth Bricks

The use of local materials in construction contributes to solving the deficit of sustainable housing in some developing countries. Earth constructions have a low ecological impact and are among the cheapest, especially in rural areas. The durability of earthen buildings depends on the geotechnical properties of the soil used and the respect of basic architectural rules. Evaluation of the geotechnical properties of soils contributes to the choice of the appropriate technique to use them. The macrotermes sp and cubitermes sp termite mound soils are widespread and commonly used in construction in some regions of the world. The results obtained from the 27 samples showed that the clay content of some soils is higher than the maximum permitted of 30% and that other soils have a sand content lower than the minimum of 30% permitted by most standards for the manufacture of mud bricks. Some soils have good molding properties and a plasticity suitable for making mud bricks. To correct excess clay and limit the risk of cracking during drying, lime, plant fibers or sand could be incorporated into these soils. The cubitermes sp termite mound soils are composed of kaolinite and illite and the macrotermes sp termite mound soils of kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite. Soils containing kaolinite or illite are suitable for the manufacture of CEB, adobes, rammed earth and in the manufacture of tiles or pottery.

Analysis of productivity performance of real estate and construction firms in Indonesia

Sustained total factor productivity (TFP) growth of firms is essential to achieve sustained supply growth, which is necessary to solve the housing shortage and affordability problems. Existing productivity literature focuses on large firms whilst smaller firms make a significant contribution to the total supply. This paper investigates the productivity of 363 Indonesian real estate construction firms of medium and large sizes. We estimate Färe-Primont TFP measures under the meta-frontier framework, accounting for differences in the overall technologies under which each group of firms operates. Results deliver several important findings. First, large firms have higher productivity levels than medium firms, but average productivity levels are very low. Second, the productivity growth of large and medium firms is negative, which contributes to the growth of the housing shortage in Indonesia from 2012 to 2016. Third, in case of easier transfer or spill-over of production technologies between two firm groups, firms could enhance further their efficiency and productivity. Fourth, those factors related to branch numbers, legal structure and experience of doing business have positive correlations with the productivity performance of firms in both large and medium groups. Additionally, medium firms could gain higher productivity by diversifying their income. Importantly, our study shows evidence to support that government subsidies have a positive influence on the productivity level of medium firms.

Quality management framework for government social housing construction in South Africa

PurposeIn addressing the housing deficits for the less privileged citizens, the South African government began constructing social housing after coming to power in 1994. However, the construction of these houses is bedevilled with many issues; prominent among them are poor quality of the constructed houses. This study seeks to develop a quality management framework for achieving quality and efficiency in public-sector housing construction, a hallmark of the country's procurement goals.Design/methodology/approachTelephone interviews were conducted with construction professionals involved in constructing government social houses across South Africa, chosen randomly. The data gathered were analysed using the content analysis method.FindingsThe study found that the most significant cause of poor quality government-constructed social housing is multifaceted, categorised into project management-related, procurement-related, contractor-related, corruption-related and political-related.Practical implicationsFailure to develop and implement a quality management framework on government-constructed social housing leads to poor quality social housing.Originality/valueThe study has identified quality-related issues and has developed a Quality Management (QM) framework for the stakeholders involved in the construction of the houses to guide them in the project implementation process to ensure project success and quality standards.

Social Equity and Urban Housing Policy Failures: Evaluation for Rehabilitation and Housing Resettlement Plans and Policies in Indian Cities

Today’s Indian cities are confronted with a wide range of problems due to social equity and urban housing policy failures, including rising populations, shifting family structures, increasing numbers of people living in informal communities and slums, inadequate urban infrastructure, growing environmental concerns, and an increase in migration. India has a severe housing shortage. A significant chasm separates housing demand from the supply. The discrepancy has led to the proliferation of urban slums, where millions of people are subjected to the lowest sanitation and hygiene standards. Housing policies in Indian cities include increasing taxes on unused or uninhabited land to fund the construction of low-cost dwellings, altering zoning laws to mandate that builders, and promoting higher densities of houses to spread out infrastructure costs among a larger population. Many people who have been the beneficiaries of land acquisition or other forms of forcible relocation are eligible for assistance through the Rehabilitation and Housing Resettlement Program. The proposed method included the city’s slums in the Advanced Smart Urban Missions (ASUM) planning process to overcome housing policy failures. A three-dimensional social equity framework with dispersion, identification, and protocol dimension aspects is applied to evaluate formal recovery plans’ objectives, priorities, and tactics. One of the most critical aspects of providing more housing alternatives for more people is ensuring everyone can afford it. Human rights, different perspectives, development initiatives in India, and policy inclusivity were also investigated. It makes suggestions for improving intelligent city policy that considers the needs of the city’s disadvantaged populations. This study looks into the problems that slum dwellers have with relocation and evictions and is limited to establishing various Smart Urban Missions. The research will help streamline the intelligent city development process sequentially, improving conditions for the urban poor and disadvantaged.

Индустриализация Сталинграда и разрешение жилищной проблемы городского населения

Introduction. Meeting the housing needs of the Soviet population during industrialization lagged behind the pace of the construction of industrial enterprises in the country. The Stalingrad population was no exception. The increasing need for housing was due to the intensive growth of the urban population due to the massive influx of peasants to industrial construction sites. The shortage of housing was observed at all Stalingrad enterprises. For its resolution, housing construction began to be carried out in Stalingrad through the efforts of industrial enterprises with the involvement of construction organizations. Methods and materials. The study, based on historical-comparative and historical-descriptive methods, used published documentary materials and sources from the State Archive of the Volgograd region. The information presented is based on these materials. It covers the role of central and local authorities in resolving the housing crisis of the Stalingrad population and the difficulties of Stalingraders with housing issues. Analysis. The article deals with the provisions for housing workers in various large industrial enterprises in Stalingrad; the protocols and letters of the authorities on resolving the housing crisis, identifying the reasons for non-fulfillment of housing construction plans, are analyzed; and it is mentioned about the use of “extra” living space for workers in institutions, red corners, clubs, prayer houses, and churches. According to the decision of local authorities, 10% of the living space in private households was provided to newly arriving workers at enterprises to provide housing. But there was still not enough housing; besides, the living conditions also testified to the severity of the problem. The availability of living space for the urban population, primarily workers, was low; living conditions were unfavorable. Results. Nevertheless, despite the fact that among all the largest industrial cities of the USSR, Stalingrad was distinguished by the lowest provision of living space for urban residents, since the mid-1930s, the average norm of living space per Stalingrad resident has increased, which indicates a weakening of the severity of the housing crisis and an improvement in the lives of Stalingraders.

Implications of Housing Corporations’ Capacity on Successful Delivery of Mass Housing Programmes

There has been several ambitious housing policies in Nigeria spanning across pre and post-independence aimed at addressing the growing housing deficit using the concept of Mass Housing Programmes (MHPs), including the recent MHPs in the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan- (NESP) (2021-2025). However, implementation of the policies has not addressed the housing deficit because records confirmed the low performances of MHPs whereby only a fraction of the units intended to be built are delivered. The strategy for implementing the MHP is that, implementation institutions are to utilise Estate Developers (EDs) such as Housing Corporations (HCs) to drive the successful execution of the projects and based on the scale of the MHP in the NESP, the capacity of EDs in general and HCs specifically will have implications on its success. As such, this study was designed to ascertain the implications of HCs capacity towards successful delivery of MHPs in Nigeria. A Case Study Research design was used to collect data from HCs of six North-West states in Nigeria using an interview. Data was analysed using a single case and crosscase technique. Results revealed that the experiences in the practices of HCs in MHPs has the potentials to: reduce project cost; reduce project time; increase clients’ satisfaction; and develop human resource. It was concluded that the HCs in North-West States possess capacity to successfully deliver MHPs such as the NESP and future National Housing Programmes (NHPs). Based on the findings of this research, the study recommends that the vulnerability of HCs should be studied to get a more encompassing picture of performance potentials in successfully delivering MHPs. Furthermore, a more comprehensive study should be undertaken to cover the HCs across Nigeria to get information that could enable their optimal integration into MHPs. The implication of the findings is that, since the HCs demonstrated some capacities to deliver MHPs, EDs can successfully delivered MHPs if other enabling factors that are key to delivery of MHPs such as finance, among others are put in place. The limitation of the study is that the study covers only six HCs, thus, generalisation of the findings could be limited.

ASSESSING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT RESILIENCE IN BRAZILIAN SOCIAL HOUSING: CHALLENGES AND REFLECTIONS

In Brazil, the housing deficit is one of the challenges arising from accelerated urbanization, with the government housing program “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” standing out in the offer of millions of social housing from 2009 to 2019. However, there have been several constructive problems in these homes and a low capacity to respond to impacts expected during their life cycle, pointing out its reduced resilience. Understanding resilience as a driving force in the fight against vulnerability, this article discusses the theoretical basis of the concept of resilience in the built environment, presenting the definitions adopted in the research presented and a resilience matrix evaluation system to assess resilience in the built environment of social housing, pointing out key findings in the Brazilian scenario.