Sustainable Affordable Housing Research Articles

Sustainable Affordable Housing: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

Nowadays, there are many studies with a significant focus on affordable housing. The relevance of this theme, which is usually the central object of public housing policies, requires an updated review of the problems and challenges to be overcome, especially in terms of sustainability, in favor of an improvement in the quality of products delivered to beneficiaries. This research concentrates on applying the sustainability concept to affordable housing, emphasizing technical, social, and governance aspects. A novel classification framework is introduced, encompassing these aspects in the context of sustainability integrated with affordable housing. A systematic literature review is conducted and more than 100 articles are examined based on bibliometric and bibliographic analyses to highlight the main dimensions and topics involved in the housing public policy sphere. The study has been elaborated based on collecting relevant materials, building a descriptive analysis of the literature examined, highlighting the classification structure that categorizes the studies examined, and evaluating the material identified based on the classification structure. The outcomes aim to spotlight the diverse dimensions of sustainable affordable housing and associated research themes. Furthermore, the research outlines deficiencies in current approaches and outlines a future research agenda for implementing sustainability in affordable housing. It establishes a strong connection between technical, social, and governance aspects of affordable housing and sustainability, considering anticipated approaches, techniques, and challenges.

Prisms of Possibility: Biographically situated insights on the transformative potential of sustainable affordable housing

AbstractRooted in my upbringing in the South Bronx and informed by my extensive equity‐focused research on housing, energy, and health, alongside practical experience in small‐scale, place‐based real estate, I advocate for a more nuanced and holistic approach to understanding and achieving “sustainable affordable housing.” By challenging the conventional emphasis on environmental and economic sustainability, I argue that social realities must also take precedence in this endeavor. Drawing from my lived experiences and expertise, I propose viewing housing and neighborhoods through a population lens to drive equitable, intergenerational progress. In this commentary, I present three innovative strategies to harness the transformative potential of sustainable affordable housing. Bold Idea #1 emphasizes community‐based, non‐profit‐led retrofits, maintenance, and property management, while Bold Idea #2 champions legacy housing placements. Bold Idea #3 focuses on promoting moderate income housing and homeownership opportunities. These bold propositions aim to propel sustainable affordable housing beyond its current constraints, positioning it as a true catalyst for positive social change.

The Challenges of Sustainable Affordable Housing Construction During the Sri Lankan Economic Crisis

The present Sri Lankan economic crisis has severely impacted various sectors including the industry of construction. Hence, the construction of affordable housing has become an extremely significant factor in response to the circumstances of the economic downfall. Although affordable housing projects are one of the best resolutions for the need for shelter during economic breakdowns, sustainably commencing, implementing, and maintaining such projects are also highly challenging in the present. Therefore, the present study examines the challenges of commencing, implementing, and maintaining sustainable affordable housing projects in Sri Lanka under the impacts of the contemporary economic crisis. The methodology of this research is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. It has cooperated the primary data gathered from the study sample; construction professionals of Sri Lankan affordable housing projects via semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys and also the secondary data sources such as research paper publications, periodicals, journals, and books. The data received from the questionnaire survey was analyzed by a Frequency Index after forming them on a ‘Likert Scale’ to examine the degree of application of each respondent. The data gathered by interviews were evaluated in reference to a content analysis. The overall study findings reveal various limitations of affordable housing projects in Sri Lanka during the current economic crisis. It also suggests adopting new strategies and measures to enforce the defined field of study by prioritizing the degree of impact of each factor.

INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF HOMEBUYERS’ SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON PREFERENCES OF SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Low- and middle-income groups face difficulties in homeownership because of the urbanisation and rising living standards, in which they rely heavily on the government’s housing provision. Yet, affordable housing provided in Malaysia has been repeatedly criticised as it is not up to homebuyers’ expectations and is not supported to reach sustainable goals. Hence, this research aims to investigate the influence of the sociodemographic background of the homebuyers on their preferences for sustainable affordable housing in Malaysia. The questionnaire was designed and responses were obtained from 316 low- and middle-income homebuyers. Spearman rank correlation and ordinal regression were used to investigate the association between homebuyers’ sociodemographic characteristics and their preference for sustainable affordable housing. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that gender, generation, marital status and monthly income were significantly correlated with sustainability criteria. The ordinal regression model reflected that stronger preferences for sustainable affordable housing were shown among female homebuyers, Gen Y and Baby Boomer homebuyers and married ones. The research findings close the gap between users (homebuyers) and the providers (developer/government) in the provision of affordable housing. Developers and the local authorities can provide sustainable affordable housing solutions that suit the needs of different homebuyers.

Effective affordable housing strategies for the urban poor in Nigeria

Providing affordable housing (AH) in a suitable manner has continued to be a global challenge despite various research attempts and policy interventions, suggesting a need for innovativeness in affordable housing provision. Review of literature exposes a mismatch between AH demand and what is supplied. A pragmatic approach to AH provision warrants an investigation of the urban poor, being targets of AH interventions. To achieve this, this study examined the urban poor to diligently explore their informal housing strategies. 40 randomly selected respondents were interviewed from the 5 strata of largest slums in Lagos, Nigeria. Following a descriptive, content and thematic analyses of data, findings are that there are concealed and untapped resources within the housing strategies of the urban poor that may inform suitable affordable housing provision approaches. Findings are that suitable rent for housing the urban poor should not exceed $9 per month, rental housing is more suitable for the urban poor than homeownership, incremental housing, use of cheaper construction materials, adopting alternative housing approaches such as shared housing, convertible homes and hostels are suitable housing construction strategies. Suitable housing financing strategies will be modifying their existent housing finance means among other essential findings. This study provides insights into informally devised housing strategies of settlers in the slums of Lagos. Data from this study may benefit policymakers and are useful for future studies on pro-poor housing provision. Study recommended that the informal strategies of the urban poor can be improved, institutionalized and incorporated into housing policies to achieve effective and sustainable affordable housing provision for the urban poor in developing economies.

Community Wellbeing in Cities through the Sustainable Affordable Housing

Community Wellbeing in Cities through the Sustainable Affordable Housing

Towards a net-zero carbon economy: A sustainability performance assessment of innovative prefabricated construction methods for affordable housing in Southern Africa

Recently, efforts to mainstream sustainability principles into affordable housing projects through the adoption of modern methods of construction, like innovative prefabricated construction methods (IPCMs), have been observed. However, limited studies have evaluated the sustainability performance of IPCMs deployed to affordable housing projects in Southern Africa, where the delivery of sustainable affordable housing remains a regional imperative. This study bridges this gap by assessing the sustainability performance and index scores of six IPCM variants implemented on affordable housing projects. The study adopted a two-phased quasi-experimental research design. In the first phase, the technical specification, lifecycle energy and cost and actual performance of these variants under varying conditions pertaining to sustainability were assessed and compared. The Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable Housing (SIAH) framework was adjusted to enhance its utility for computing sustainability index scores using expert opinions. Afterwards, the experts computed the sustainability index score for each case using the adjusted SIAH framework. Subsequently, the Edge App and SimaPro were used to simulate the sustainability performance of these variants under varying conditions. The study's results indicate higher overall sustainability performance of IPCMs compared to conventional methods. Moreover, the research results proved that the monolithic IPCMs were more suitable for net-zero carbon buildings. The study highlights the SIAH framework's usefulness as an assessment tool for determining the sustainability performance of affordable housing projects and for successfully selecting optimum IPCMs to implement towards eliciting such performance. It is expected that this study's results will contribute towards advancing the SIAH agenda in Southern Africa.

The Barriers in Adopting Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) Development: An Article Review

The insistence to have guidelines on Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) development has gained substantial courtesy in recent years due to the vast needs for affordable houses and increasing awareness of environmental concerns especially in most developing countries. The affordable housing development in Malaysia has been progressively improving since the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (11th Malaysia Plan) commencement, which focuses on increasing the affordability and accessibility of housing within low and middle-income groups, especially in urban areas. However, in order to achieve proper urban development, affordable housing must also be sustainable. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse the barriers in adopting SAH from the perspectives of developers, householders, and Governments. The objective of this study also is to draft out the barrier indicators pertaining to SAH development. This extended literature review research applied the Content Analysis Method which analysed 12 articles on the challenges of integrating affordable houses into sustainable houses by various authors in different countries and with diverse legislative practices. The findings consist of six (6) main barriers and thirty-seven (37) challenges from the perspectives of the main participants (developers, householders, and the Governments) of SAH development. The result revealed that the financial, expertise and technology, education, knowledge and awareness, accessibility and land use planning, enforcement and initiatives, land assessment, and land cost are the main barriers in implementing SAH development. The findings of this research will provide a comprehensive understanding of the limitations that hinder the widespread adaptation of SAH development initiatives. The future research will underscore the verification and validation of SAH development indicators from the main participants to initiate strategic planning on SAH developments. Ultimately, addressing the barriers will contribute to the realisation and potential of sustainable affordable housing options for all.

Frugal Innovation a Game Changer to Sustainable Affordable Housing

Globally the demand for housing is far more than supply, resulting to 100 million+ been homeless and with one billion people living in inadequate homes. In addition, recent world crisis such as high rural urban migration, natural disasters like the Syria-Turkey earth quake, flooding, conflicts such as the ongoing Russia-Urkraine war, COVID-19 protocols of social distance and isolation, etc. exacerbates the housing deficit. Whilst the current approach to housing especially in developing countries concentrates on convention unsustainable approach to affordable housing delivery. With the few sustainable housing development attempts been far luxurious beyond average Ghanaian affordability. This research seeks to contribute to address housing deficit problems using frugal Innovation (FI) as a game changer to sustainable affordable housing (SAH) through a bibliometrics and a systematic review study. With regards to financial, resource-constrained, significant cost reductions over existing options and sustainable solutions, one idea currently gaining traction is frugal innovation (FI). It is more affordable than the conventional approach to development and can convert constraint into opportunity in a sustainable manner, as well as have a direct link to sustainable affordable development. Search for this study was on all disciplines with publications linked to frugal innovation and sustainable affordable housing limited to only online articles, conference publications, books, and other materials published in English on Scopus, science direct, and Google Scholar. The finding revealed, FI is a combination of all similar innovations, under one umbrella to serve the underserved bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) market, making it superior to other forms of innovation. This study will contribute significantly to improving the policy direction of stakeholders in an attempt to reduce the housing deficit in Ghana and other developing countries globally. In addition, it will contribute to the UN-SDGs and UN-Habitat policymakers on the sustainable cities 2030 agenda.

The Benefits of Solar Energy on the Provision of Sustainable Affordable Housing in Nigeria

The Benefits of Solar Energy on the Provision of Sustainable Affordable Housing in Nigeria

The use of alternative building technologies as a sustainable affordable housing solution: perspectives from South Africa

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the perception of the local experts and end users on the drivers, barriers and strategies to the use of alternative building technologies (ABTs), with a focus on sandbag building technologies (SBTs) in the provision of sustainable housing in South Africa towards improving the public's understanding of SBTs. Design/methodology/approach This research adopted a qualitative approach that used focus group meetings as the primary data collection method for this study. This study's focus group participants comprised ABT experts and end users of ABT houses in South Africa who were selected using a convenient sampling technique. The data were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using NVivo 11 software. Findings This study found that the perceived drivers to using ABTs such as SBT comprise sustainability, affordability, job creation potentials, fire-resistant and earthquake resistance. This study revealed strategies for the SBTs, including awareness, building sandbag prototypes across cities and training. Practical implications This study's findings have practical implications for the practice and praxis of ABT implementation and uptake in South Africa. This study provides a framework for broadening the worldwide understanding of use and uptake of SBTs to provide sustainable and affordable housing. Originality/value This study adds significantly to the limited body of knowledge on ABTs, focusing on sandbag houses. Consequently, the findings provide policymakers with information on the expert and end-user perspectives on the barriers and strategies to using ABTs.

Housing and urbanization policies of Istanbul, Turkey from central to the local

ABSTRACT Global economic restructuring since the 1970s, and the rollback of the welfare state in the Global North has been a major contributor to a reduction in the affordable housing stock. Similarly in the so-called Global South recent economic development has been accompanied by a lack of sustainable affordable housing and housing policies. In this short paper, I aim to analyse important policy papers from the central government of Turkey and local government of Istanbul focusing on the housing policies. I will use content and policy analysis to examine the legal and policy framework in the city of Istanbul and compare this with what is happening on the ground. These policy papers include Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Strategical Plan (2020–2024), Turkey 11th 5 year Development Plan Housing Politics (2019–2023), Urban Development Strategy (2010–2023) and Istanbul Regional Plan (2014–2023).

Affordable Housing with Prefabricated Construction Technology in India: An Approach to Sustainable Supply

The urban housing shortage is very huge and the supply of sustainable affordable housing is a greater challenge in developing nations like India. To fulfill the requirements of this huge urban housing shortage, it is necessary to formulate a system that will be able to supply affordable housing rapidly without compromising sustainability. Prefabricated construction technology (PCT) has the potential to provide significant environmental and economic benefits, hence gaining popularity as a viable alternative solution to on-site construction. There are many debatable issues associated with PCT prevailing among the stakeholders, which are preventing the adoption of PCT. Thus, this research aims to analyze the current scenario of PCT, its potential to supply sustainable affordable housing. It also attempts to address major challenges that need to be addressed with possible recommendations to enable the easy adoption of PCT as an efficient supply method for sustainable affordable housing.

Appraising the nexus between influencers and sustainability‐oriented innovation adoption in affordable housing projects

AbstractThe emergence of a plethora of innovative construction methods, materials and technologies in the construction industry has been projected to enhance the effective delivery of sustainable affordable housing. However, a lack of empirical evidence buttressing an extensive analysis of the effect of internal and external influencers on adopting these innovations within the affordable housing context in developing countries persists. This study examines the nexus between company and project characteristics as internal influencers, and challenges as external influencers, on the extent of use of sustainability‐oriented innovations (SOIs), on affordable housing projects. Variables emanating from an extensive literature review were presented in a causal model detailing sustainable, innovative, and affordable housing (SIAH). The model and the inherent causality between the constructs were validated through a survey administered on a population of registered South African home developers. The results of structural equation modelling posit a minimal positive impact of internal influencers and moderate negative effects of external challenges on the extent of use of SOIs by home developers. Also, results highlighted the negative mediating impact of challenges on the relationship between internal influences and the extent of use of SOI in affordable housing projects. The study concludes that the external challenges are the key drivers of adopting innovation in SIAH, and by addressing these challenges, the extent of use will significantly improve. The validated causal model can be used as a framework to enhance SOIs adoption in SIAH.

Karakteristik sosial-ekonomi dan Preferensi Hunian berdasar Tipe Status Hak Tempat Tinggal Keluarga Berpenghasilan Rendah di Kawasan Industri Kecamatan Ungaran Timur, Kabupaten Semarang

: Low income people do not have enough opportunities to access adequate housing in proper quality standard. They do not have many options for renting or buying affordable housing in the city due to financial constraints. Especially for low-income families (MBR) who already have a family, housing is increasingly needed because of their increasing activity. Currently, the government continues to provide housing assistance for MBR in the form of subsidized Mortgage (KPR FLPP), but the demand for housing continues to increase from time to time. Therefore, providing sustainable affordable housing for low-income families has various challenges. This study aims to explain the socio-economic characteristics and housing preferences of low-income families living in the industrial area in Ungaran Timur, Kabupaten Semarang. The research is located in East Ungaran Subdistrict, Semarang Regency as a representation of the mediumsized city area in Central Java Province. In the research location, five type of housing occupancy status found in the area: one unit of low-cost flat (the Ungaran Rusunawa Gedang Anak) and 4 typologies of landed houses categorized by rights statuses: home ownership rights, rental houses in installments(leasing), and rental landed houses. The research method used is quantitative by using a questionnaire to 100 MBR families(respondents). Identification of socio-economic characteristics using descriptive methods and cross tabulation, identification of physical characteristics of the dwelling using the scoring method with a Likert scale, and identification of occupancy preferences using descriptive methods. Based on the research, it was found that families who can afford homeownership housing have a minimum income of IDR 3,500,000 by working as permanent workers. Most families who work as permanent laborers start buying houses at the age of 30-36 years. Meanwhile, families who work as contract laborers and self-employed workers with an average income of below Rp. 3,500,000 choose to live in rental low-cost flat or rental landed house which is located close to the current workplace. Each dwelling shows different physical characteristics. Owned houses and houses in installments undergo building modifications because of their status as property rights, while flat and leased landed houses do not experience a change in building shape because their occupancy status is rented. The location of rusunawa and landed rental houses shows the distance and or accessibility to workplaces of less than 2 km, while low-income families in privately owned houses and houses in installments need to travel more than 2 km to get to work or about 4 km, some families should have 30 minutes commuting to get to their work. In the selection of new housing, most low-income families showed similar preferences where ownership status, proximity to workplaces, availability of clean water infrastructure and disaster-free locations were priorities.

Insights of housing providers’ on the critical barriers to sustainable affordable housing uptake in Nigeria

The increasing rates of unaffordability cases and subsequent housing abandonment recorded in the public and private housing units provided for the average and vulnerable members of society have been linked not just to financial problems but also sustainability issues. Sustainable affordable housing (SAH) has been advocated by housing scholars and researchers to address these exponentially growing concerns. However, sustainable and affordable houses are at a low rate in Nigeria's housing stock because the uptake of SAH is still in its infancy and very slow. To encourage SAH adoption in Nigeria, a multi-dimensional problem analysis challenging the uptake of SAH is required. The study, therefore, aims to explore the experiences of housing providers on the barriers to SAH adoption in Nigeria. The objective is to determine the degree to which each barrier contributes to the disenfranchisement of vulnerable members of society in terms of housing rights. In this regard, a comprehensive list of 43 barriers, classified under 6 categories, was determined through an extensive literature review. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was designed and administered to 1,554 experts in the Nigerian housing industry with affordable housing experience. Frequency analysis and Kruskal-Wallis H-tests were used to rank and identify the critical barriers. Findings reveal that housing providers' views on the criticality of these barriers differ significantly across professions and based on the nature of service (academic or practice). A framework has been developed to aid housing providers and stakeholders in prioritizing their actions for SAH implementation in the study area.

The Incentives of Stabilized Interlocking Clay Bricks for Providing Sustainable Affordable Housing in Nigeria

The Incentives of Stabilized Interlocking Clay Bricks for Providing Sustainable Affordable Housing in Nigeria

The Interface between Socioeconomic Activities of the Urban Poor and Sustainable Affordable Housing Provision

The Interface between Socioeconomic Activities of the Urban Poor and Sustainable Affordable Housing Provision

Measuring Sustainability Elements in PR1MA Affordable Housing

Housing has become a vital instrument in daily life, not because of the cost and function’s only but housing can provide other attributes of a feasible urban life. Thus, Malaysia's government has struggled to cater affordable housing to counter economic concerns and adopt a sustainable housing development aspect for a better quality of life. However, even the housing affordability of low and middle-income earners has been improved, but some of them are remains in debating. The objective of this paper is to measure the sustainability element in PRIMA affordable projects in Malaysia as well as to determine the satisfaction level of sustainable affordable housing practice among PR1MA residents. The data were collected from 97 survey forms distributed amongst PR1MA residents through Google form and self-administered and were considered as useful data for further analysis. The results show that only social and environmental elements were determined as sustainability elements in PR1MA affordable housing in selected PR1MA projects in Malaysia. Moreover, the results revealed that majority respondents have low satisfaction level on economic sustainability in sustainable affordable housing practice within their residential area. Thus, this result has a significant contribution to the stakeholders who are directly or indirectly participated in affordable housing development and specifically PR1MA projects. This result also helps the policy makers and practitioner for emphasizing several important elements for developing affordable housing in future.

Identification of Effective Integrated Indicators for Sustainable Affordable Housing Provision

The affordable housing sector is receiving increasing attention in developed and developing countries. That attention increased due to the economic inflation and the increasing population growth, which generated a housing deficit affecting low and middle-income households. Accordingly, the research gap emerged with the need to search for affordable and sustainable housing in the residential built environment that meets low- and middle-income family groups’ economic, social and environmental sustainability criteria. This paper focused on identifying the most important planning and design indicators contributing to affordable housing provision, integrated with sustainability criteria to achieve part of the comprehensive sustainable development vision. This study aims to identify indicators and produce a framework that works as a guideline to provide reasonable housing that is adequate for low and middle-income groups and to reduce householders’ tolerance of its operational costs. A preliminary list of 72 sustainability performance indicators of affordable housing was identified through an extensive literature review. This was followed by a derived two stages framework to define housing affordability. These findings provide useful references for policymakers as well as industry practitioners to develop affordable housing programs sustainably. This helps to achieve the sustainable development at the regional scale.