Housing Standards Research Articles

Addressing Poverty and Homelessness is Central to an Equity-Focused Response to Climate Change: Considering Canada as an Example

People experiencing poverty are highly exposed to climatic events due to multiple intersecting factors. This commentary centres on poverty, generally, and homelessness, specifically in considering the impacts of climate change on health equity in Canada. We propose prioritizing poverty reduction and prevention over emergency response through measures such as universal basic income and enhanced housing standards. Such work can be grounded in inclusive assessments of risks and leveraged interventions, Indigenous leadership, intersectoral collaboration, and community engagement. We argue that it is essential that we move beyond the current, broad awareness of climate change as a threat multiplier with an emphasis on individual responsibility and the “othering” of people experiencing poverty. What is needed is a clear, systems-focused action fundamentally different from the pace and nature of the work done to date.

PSIV-16 The role of veterinary services on nutrition schemes, management, and health practices for sheep and goats in rural Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North West Province of South Africa

Abstract Poverty is a feature of rural households, and as a result rural people usually adopt low-input agriculture to alleviate poverty. Many households in Ngaka Modiri Molema District keep animals, particularly sheep and goats, for a variety of reasons, including as source of income, milk, and meat. However, they lack the management skills that are necessary for their livestock to increase their productivity. Inadequate animal management, including poor feeding and housing standards and poor application of proper animal health procedures are compounded by a lack of agricultural experience and low-input farming methods. In addition, poor animal nutrition, sickness and a high prevalence of parasites, and low animal production output further contribute to low overall productivity. Therefore, support offered by the veterinary services, and the impact these interventions have on sheep and goat farming among rural farmers need to be investigated. The present study will seek to describe the feeding schemes and management practices adopted by sheep and goat owners, as well as the role of veterinary and extension services in the development of such practices. Health care provided to sheep and goat farmers by the veterinary services will also be determined. A survey will be conducted in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, a rural area in North West Province of South Africa. The study population will consist of all farmers, both female and male, rearing sheep and goats. Animal and farm information level data and general farm management practices will be collected via a questionnaire survey. Using the Statistical Kit for STATA (version 16), data will be examined by computing frequency, percentages, and proportions based on the characteristics of the sample population. This survey will help to provide opportunities for resource-poor farmers in rural areas to develop their flocks.

Implementation of the Independent Housing Stimulant Assistance Program in the Provision of Livable Houses in Soloy Agung Village, West Kulisusu District, North Buton Regency

This study aims to determine the implementation of the Independent Housing Stimulant Assistance Program in the provision of livable houses in Soloy Agung Village, West Kulisusu District, North Buton Regency. This research uses a qualitative approach. The informants in this study were selected using a purposive sampling technique, so that the informants in this study consisted of communities receiving uninhabitable housing assistance. The data in this study were obtained through interviews, observations and documentation. The data obtained was then analyzed qualitatively with an interactive model consisting of data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawn. The results of the study show that there are three steps in the implementation of Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance in Soloy Agung Village, West Kulisusu District, first , community preparation, which includes recipient organization, socialization, household needs identification, store services, and proposal writing, is a process designed to enable potential recipients to be ready for the program and to guarantee success and sustainability; Second, Pre-execution activities are a series of arrangements made before the start of construction or restoration activities of the primary house. This regulation includes the identification of aid recipients, the distribution of assistance, and the completion of assistance; and third, the use of BSPS funds is regulated to ensure that the funds are used efficiently and in accordance with the program's objectives, which are to improve housing standards for low-income communities. This includes the creation of DRPBs, shop contracts, hiring handymen, purchasing building materials, performing real work, paying workers' wages, and reporting. BSPS software helps people build and repair livable homes, reduce financial burdens, and create healthy homes with good lighting, sanitation, and durability.

Resource Use Efficiency of Pig Production raised with and without Open Area during Summer Season

A total of 20 piglets (10 castrated males and 10 females) at 3 months of age with initial body weight of 18.94 ± 1.04 Kg were randomly subjected to minimum limit of floor area recommendations of housing standards (IS: 3916-1966) range of 0.9-1.8 square meter for weaner to finisher. In treatments Tc, pigs were provided with only 0.9 m2 covered floor area per pig without access to open area and in control (To) with covered floor area of 0.9 m2 plus additional equal open floor area (total 1.8 m2 per pig). Result showed that resource use efficiency in terms of saving of 90 % space, 41.23 % labor and 22.05 % water per pig in Tc were significantly (p < 0.01) better than To. However, production cost per kg live weight in Tc was 5.38 % higher than To.

Public-Private partnership frameworks for financing affordable housing: Lessons and models

The pressing need for affordable housing in both developed and developing countries has prompted governments to explore innovative financing mechanisms, with Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) emerging as a viable solution. This paper examines the frameworks, lessons, and models of PPPs for financing affordable housing, aiming to provide insights into their effectiveness and scalability. PPPs combine the resources, expertise, and efficiencies of both the public and private sectors to address the housing affordability crisis. By leveraging the strengths of each sector, PPPs aim to reduce financial burdens on governments while ensuring the delivery of quality housing solutions. This review outlines the various PPP models, including build-operate-transfer (BOT), design-build-finance-operate (DBFO), and lease-develop-operate (LDO), highlighting their structural differences and application contexts. Key components of successful PPP frameworks include clear regulatory environments, transparent procurement processes, risk-sharing mechanisms, and robust stakeholder engagement. Regulatory frameworks that support PPPs play a critical role in providing legal certainty and fostering investor confidence. Transparent procurement processes ensure fairness and competitiveness, while effective risk-sharing mechanisms distribute financial, construction, and operational risks appropriately between public and private partners. Engaging stakeholders, including communities and civil society, is essential for aligning project objectives with local needs and ensuring social acceptance. Case studies from various regions illustrate the practical application and outcomes of PPP frameworks. In the United Kingdom, the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) has effectively utilized PPPs to deliver thousands of affordable housing units, demonstrating the benefits of strong regulatory support and private sector participation. Singapore's Housing and Development Board (HDB) employs PPP models to maintain high housing standards while ensuring affordability through extensive government subsidies and private sector involvement. In South Africa, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) leverages PPPs to develop rental housing for low- and moderate-income households, highlighting the importance of government incentives and capacity-building initiatives. The review concludes that PPP frameworks, when effectively designed and implemented, can significantly enhance the availability of affordable housing. Lessons learned from successful models emphasize the need for supportive policies, transparent processes, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Policymakers and practitioners can draw on these insights to develop tailored PPP approaches that address specific housing challenges and contribute to sustainable urban development. Keywords: Public-Private Partnership: Frameworks, Financing, Affordable Housing, Models.

IMPACT OF DECISIONS OF PROVIDERS ON THE QUALITY OF HOUSING IN POST-DISASTER RELIEF CAMPS: USERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Against the backdrop of recurring humanitarian crises, the study addresses the pressing issue of housing quality in post-disaster relief camps and aims to enhance the well-being of displaced populations. The purpose of the research is to examine the influence of providers' decisions on shelter conditions. The study examines how provider choices affect the standard of housing in relief camps in Nigeria using a descriptive survey. It encompasses four camps with a combined population of 20,982 people, two in Lagos and two in Abuja. Through stratified sampling, 378 respondents were selected using Yemane's formula. Over a year, information from internally displaced people (IDPs) was gathered through standardized surveys. The study reveals that decision-making processes significantly affect housing quality, and residents' voices are often inadequately considered. The study's conclusions help comprehend the living circumstances at the relief camps in Nigeria. The originality of this study lies in its emphasis on decision-making in post-disaster housing provision. This research supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 which aims to enhance the quality of life for marginalized communities through living conditions. Keywords: Decision making, Humanitarian crisis, Housing quality, Nigeria, SDG 11, Relief camps

Legal Repair: Domesticating European Legislation on Pig Welfare

Our daily activities rely on a proliferating number of things that are subject to decay. As stressed in a growing body of literature, repair is critical to the smooth functioning of material infrastructure. However, this scholarship has overlooked a crucial dimension: things become fragile not only due to material degradation but also as a result of regulatory change. This article introduces the notion of “legal repair” to describe how, in the face of legal change, certain actors reassemble the material world. We elaborate on this concept through an analysis of the domestication of European Union (EU) animal welfare legislation by the French pig sector. While it was feared that stricter pig housing standards would fragilize the existing farms, pig farmers complied using technical systems that failed to significantly improve animal welfare. We analyze this domestication of EU legislation as a process of legal repair. Alongside the political work of the leaders of the pig sector, agricultural advisers also played a key role. Their work reveals the relational nature of legal repair: in the production of “local specifications” matching the demands of existing farming systems, in the negotiation of the finer points of the legislation, and in the redefinition of farming performance.

304 What does Prop 12 mean for the swine industry

Abstract California’s Proposition 12, also known as the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, has been fully implemented as of January 1st, 2024. This measure regulates the minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens, dairy calves raised for veal, and breeding pigs in order for the associated products to be sold within the state of California. Suppliers of these covered products need to be accredited by specific, third-party certifying agents to be certified as ‘Prop 12 compliant’. For the swine industry, the spotlight is on the housing of any female breeding pig over the age of 6 mo. These animals must be in an enclosure that allows them to lie down, stand up, turn around, and fully extend their limbs without touching the sides of their stalls or another animal (24 square feet of floor space per animal). These regulations also limit the duration of time producers can house animals in closed crates before farrowing to 5 d. While these housing regulations do not apply during the nursing phase, research contexts, during veterinary treatment or immediately before slaughter, they do apply in the post-weaning phase. This means that the animals cannot be confined for heat-checking or breeding to be considered ‘Prop 12 compliant’. These housing standards have no minimum herd size and apply to those in commercial or private farms if there will be products produced and sold. With any change to the standard operating procedures of animal husbandry, there will be some growing pains. These issues can be addressed when considerations are given to the group composition (age and size of sows), pen mixing practices (pre or post breeding), feeding schedule [collective (trough, floor fed) or individual (electronic sow feeding, free access stalls)], and, pen structural quality (flooring, enrichment). This measure will have considerable economic and ethical implications related to barn renovations, animal care staff training, and husbandry practices for the swine industry.

Worst in Europe? Swedish Housing Conditions in the First Half of the 20th century

Prevailing narratives in the historical literature often paint a picture of Sweden having some of the poorest housing conditions in Europe during the early 20th century. This article challenges this widely accepted view by presenting a first-of-its-kind systematic and comparative study of European housing conditions, with a focus on Sweden. By constructing a new database and critically examining existing data, this study seeks to reassess the common assertions about Swedish housing standards. This study shows that there is no empirical evidence to support the notion that Sweden had among the worst housing conditions in Europe in this period.

Housing Norms and Standards: The Design of Everyday Life

<div><p>This editorial introduces the articles in this thematic issue, which bridge the gap between technical housing standards, design practices, and socio-cultural norms.</p></div>

Energy Renovation and Inhabitants’ Health Literacy: Three Housing Buildings in Paris

Today, whether condominiums or social housing, Parisian buildings are undergoing a series of renovation processes aimed at enhancing their construction quality. This renewal, however, impacts the social life of the buildings, which has consolidated over the years. As a socio-technical process, renovation transforms existing architectural forms based on current housing standards. However, while a building may be composed of materials and populations, it is also the result of history, from its construction to its daily maintenance or degradation. Interpreted as such, this article posits that people with no control over their living environments are more likely to suffer from health problems, due to a lack of knowledge about underlying causes or low health literacy regarding living spaces. Consequently, their inability to adapt raises the question: How does an individual’s ability to control their living space influence their health? As part of the SAPHIR program, this article explores this by seeking to understand residents’ abilities, actions, and feelings concerning the tension between individual satisfaction levels and their impact on physical and mental health. It does so through three case studies of buildings constructed prior to 1973, focusing on their design, morphology, location, legal status, norms, and population types. Conducting individual interviews and collective focus groups allowed us to highlight the links between these elements by creating inhabitant and building typologies from different historical periods and standards.

Getting to effective housing policy for health: a thematic synthesis of policy development and implementation

ABSTRACT Impacts of housing on health are well-recognised. Despite this, housing standards have been neglected and there are gaps in healthy housing policies, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Given the recent publication of the WHO Housing and health guidelines, and the need to implement these into policy at all scales, we carried out a focused search and thematic synthesis of available literature on the barriers and enablers to recent housing and health policy. We aimed to generate lessons of what works to support healthy housing policy development and implementation elsewhere. Twenty-three studies representing four countries were eligible for inclusion and covered housing-related risks of air quality, lead, accessible design, and housing conditions. Findings demonstrated that policy development and implementation were facilitated through awareness of housing and health, evidence of existing housing conditions and health impacts, collaborations across sectors and between residents and decision-makers and effective enforcement systems that employed incentives, tools such as certificates for compliance, and housing inspections. Concerns about economic viability and tensions between housing rights and responsibilities limited healthy housing policy for the ‘common good’. Despite limitations in the diversity of available evidence, this thematic synthesis provides a starting point for healthy and equitable housing for all.

Compact Housing for Incremental Growth: The K206 RDP Project in Alexandra, Johannesburg

The South African Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was initiated to provide subsidised housing for low-income families. However, the programme faced challenges in establishing adequate technical guidelines and standards, resulting in subpar housing quality. This article discusses the multifaceted nature of subsidised housing design, emphasising the importance of incorporating technical housing standards as well as the spatial needs of residents based on their context (at both domestic and neighbourhood scales). The article focuses on the K206 housing RDP project in Alexandra, Johannesburg, as a case study that transitioned from generic technical standards to a resident-responsive design scheme that was inspired by the backyard room incremental expansions that were already prevalent in the Alexandra context. A critical review of South Africa’s RDP housing design technical standards and policy is explored. The article also examines the density standards and allowances for incremental expansions introduced by the K206 project, analysing data derived from fieldwork observations, interviews, and the spatial analysis of 26 dwelling units. The study’s findings underscore the significance of maintaining an equilibrium between technical standards and resident-responsive design decisions. The results demonstrate that tailoring the RDP housing design solutions to unique contextual needs can significantly elevate the quality of life of residents concerning income generation and flexibility for incremental expansion. However, this balance is delicate and disparities between the RDP technical standards and user-initiated development over time also have the potential to ultimately impair residents’ living spaces.

Analysis of House Conditions and Optimization of Aid Funds Based on Criteria for Unlivable Houses in Lubuklinggau Timur II District, Lubuklinggau City

This research addresses the problem of public knowledge of uninhabitable houses and the difficulty in identifying houses that do not meet community housing standards, to provide criteria for uninhabitable houses as well as optimize the rehabilitation assistance budget carried out by the Government. This research uses a quantitative descriptive method by collecting data through questionnaires, field observations, and documentation on 69 sample houses. The results of the analysis categorize the level of damage to the house into three categories, namely heavy, moderate, and light damage. From the research results of 69 sample houses, it was found that only 59 houses met the requirements for the uninhabitable house rehabilitation assistance program. In optimizing the allocation of aid funds, the level of damage to the house must be taken into account. With a more objective approach, rehabilitation housing programs can be more effective and provide greater benefits to people in need.

Evaluation of Residential Density of Single-Family Housing in Erbil Housing/Investment Projects

Density, as a spatial concept, can be used to predict and manage how land is used. It also plays a role in determining how much capacity is present within a given area. Due to the rapidly growing population in the Kurdistan region, one of the major issues is housing. Over the past ten years, the Kurdistan Investment Board has started the construction of numerous residential complexes by investor companies. This study's objective is to evaluate the housing projects carried out by the investor sector to assess the population and housing density and land use balance evaluate the relation of green area with neighbourhood components. For the current study, five residential complexes were invested in (Zeitun city, Italian I village, Global city, Aynda II, Andazyaran city). Since the data are numerical, the applied methodology is quantitative. According to the findings, the net population density of Andazyaran city is higher than the Iraqi standard however the gross population density of Andazyaran city is over moderate levels of single-family housing standards. Gross accommodation density is showing same problems including Aynda II, While Zeitun City's land use balance is below average, Global City and Aynda II are in line with Iraqi standards. Indicators show low commitments regarding density parameters of more than one third of cases to updated housing standards.

Memoria e preghiera dopo la tragedia. Quattro opere di architettura sacra per il Vajont, tra polemiche e sfide progettuali

This brief essay focuses on the main projects of sacred architecture realised in Vajont during the twenty years following the tragedy that ocurred there sixty years ago. Designed by the already established Michelucci, and the younger architects Avon, Tentori, Zanuso, Gresleri, and Varnier, these cemeteries and churches represent not only the reconstruction of indispensable structures and facilities, but also an attempt to redefine (the remains of) villages, landscapes, and community identities. As a counterbalance to urban planning, which seems to impose overly rational housing models and standards – being therefore unintelligible to the average citizen – these more punctual creations aim at a greater respect for the specificity of these extraordinary contexts, recovering images and memories from the past with sophisticated sensitivity, firmly rooted in the landscape. While these creations are certainly unique in their approaches, which are summarized in this essay, they are also united by the main goal of avoiding monumentalism and rhetoric.

Revitalizing Degraded and Abandoned Lands: Reflections from Local Government Involvement in Mud Brick Production - Tanzania

The study assessed local government involvement in revitalising abandoned holes and degraded lands around brick-making sites in Morogoro Municipality. Specifically, it delineated the effects of mudbrick-making activities on the communities surrounding the brick-making sites, identified alternative uses of the abandoned holes in the brick-making sites, and established the knowledge required by the community and brick-makers for improving abandoned land use for sustainability. Several techniques were utilised in data collection, including interviews and focus group discussions with village and ward leaders, district environmental officers, district community development officers, district planners, mud brick makers, and some members of the community from three specific wards, namely Kauzeni, Mindu, and Kihonda Maghorofani. The findings revealed a significant contribution of the mudbrick-making industry to enhancing income and improving the living standards of communities through employment creation. Particularly, women were involved in selling food to brick makers, while youth actively participated in brick-making activities. The abandoned holes resulting from soil extraction were repurposed for fishing, vegetable cultivation, and sugar cane production. The income accrued from these activities improved housing standards and increased social interaction among people from different regions, including seasonal migrants attracted to brick-making activities. Despite the noted positive effects, mud brick activities contributed significantly to land degradation due to the traditional technologies used in the process, resulting in large holes that posed risks to human and livestock lives. The study recommends enhancing brick makers' and landowners' awareness of implementing mud brick-making activities with appropriate sustainable environmental protection to improve the socio-economic status of both brick makers and the broader community.

URBAN CONTEXT ANALYSIS ACCORDING TO THE CONCEPT OF SPENCER'S BIOLOGICAL THEORY USING GIS: BALAD CITY CASE STUDY

Concepts of evolution theory (by Herbert Spencer) were analyzed using a Geographic Information System according to living notions in the context of an urban city. The idea of the theory was applied to the society within the context of Balad city to find out whether the concepts of contrast, integration, specialization, and exclusivity on which the theory is based have an impact on the services in the city and an effect on the structure of the social elements and the stages of its development. The research problem centered on the shortcomings of the theory in predicting and explaining the morphological and functional structure of the city, while the main objective is to analyze the concepts of biological theory according to the requirements of the context of the study area. The analysis results of the living context notions present in the city were compared with the urban housing standards using GIS to determine the extent to which the context conforms to the concept of Spencer's theory. The research found the inability of the biological side of the theory to explain the population concentration in residential neighborhoods, as well as the lack of reliance on the concepts of contrast and integration in predicting the reasons for the growth and expansion of the city, and that the city neighborhoods showed a variance in their services without showing integration and exclusivity in these services, that is, the lack of integration organic between the biological parts of the city.

Suicidal ideation and attempt among young people living in gosiwons in South Korea.

Young people living in gosiwons could be at high risk for suicide owing to inadequate living conditions and the social stigma towards them. However, this topic has not received adequate academic attention. Gosiwon is a type of small residence consisting of several tiny rooms densely packed together and usually does not meet minimum housing standards. However, gosiwons are favored by low-income groups, especially young people, because they are cheaper than other residences. This study aimed to examine the factors that increase the risk of suicidal ideation and attempt among young people living in gosiwons. A sample of 300 young people aged 19-34 years living in gosiwons for over 6 months was analyzed. A set of multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine the factors that differentiate the suicidal ideation and attempt group from the no-suicidal risk group. Approximately 30% of the study participants experienced suicidal ideation or attempted suicide. Among several risk factors, social exclusion and depressive symptoms distinguished the group with suicidal ideation from the no-risk group. Depressive symptoms were the only factor that differentiated the group with suicide attempts history from the no-risk group. The results emphasize the need to focus on social exclusion and depressive symptoms among young people living in poor housing conditions. Interventions to address social exclusion and depressive symptoms may help prevent suicide risk among young people exposed to housing exclusion.

Deficiencies in livestock holdings with respect to animal welfare identified as part of cross-compliance checks completed in 2016–2020 in the Czech Republic

Cross-compliance checks are a tool of the Common Agricultural Policy to promote agri-environmental objectives relating to the environment, animal welfare, and food safety. This mechanism consists of paying direct subsidies to farmers who comply with prescribed requirements. Compliance with animal welfare requirements in the Czech Republic is supervised by the State Veterinary Administration. This study aimed to find the main deficiencies identified as part of cross-compliance checks and to assess the trends of the most frequent defects during the period under review, i.e. 2016–2020. The data for the analysis were received from the Central Veterinary Administration of the State Veterinary Administration and included the results of 2,031 checks carried out. Shortcomings were found in 14.52% of cases. Detailed analysis showed that significantly (P < 0.05) the highest frequency of violations was found in the areas of ‘nutrition and watering’ (294; 29.85%) and ‘spatial requirements’ (274; 27.82%). Based on the evaluation of trends, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the frequency of violations in the field of compliance with holder duties and animal hygiene standards of animals was detected. The results of this work show that animal welfare is continuously improving on farms. However, the aim should be to reduce deficiencies to a minimum for all indicators. In view of the results of this study, it is necessary to focus primarily on improving the quality of nutrition, providing better housing standards with emphasis on space and equipment used, and intensifying daily checks of animals.