Most countries are faced with housing challenges, and the challenges are different for every country. Developing countries face the most challenges as countries need to provide for large families, while not having enough financial resources.
After 1945, most countries faced the problem of a housing shortage. This was due to most of the cities being destroyed during World War II. Eventually, it lead to the development of informal settlements with little to no infrastructure or basic services. The demand for housing could not be met by the government and informal settlement increased. The housing shortage challenges are influenced by: Industrial development, Increased Urbanisation, Neglect of rural areas and financial resources.
Informal settlement next to a formal settlement in South Africa. The lack of services and infrastructure can be seen even from the sky.
Source: http://sapropertyinsider.co.za/2019/07/04/start-informal-settlements-order-address-urban-land-reform/
Industrial and Economic Development
Economic growth is linked to the amount of human and physical resources of a city or country. With low human resources and low natural/ physical resources, the development of the city or country is also low. More people move away from rural areas to industrial areas in search of employment and higher living standards but mostly end up living in informal settlements.
If the housing demand is more than what the city or country can supply, people end up homeless or in informal settlements.
Source: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/demand-and-supply-balance-on-the-scale-vector-13654387
This increase the housing demand, but due to low resources in developing countries, the housing demand of urbanization isn’t always met. This leads to the private sector providing housing for low-income households.
Low-income housing provided by the private sector in South Africa.
Source: https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/private-sector-urged-to-help-solve-low-income-housing-shortage
The goal of the private sector is not necessarily to provide for low-income families but rather to make a profit. Governments need to create policies to stop the private sector from using low-income families for easy growth. Cities and countries will face an increase in informal settlements, which will decrease economic growth.
Increased Urbanisation in Cities
Cities have been growing rapidly in developing countries since the start of the 1960s, and the demand for housing has not been met. Urbanisation leads to an increase in the population size of a city, resulting in a decrease in the population size of rural areas. Cities experience the following challenges due to an increase in the population size: over-crowding with people living in small dwellings, increased demand for infrastructure, higher demand for public transportation and overcrowding of public transportation and illegal settlements form.
The Cantagalo favela (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Many informal settlements are built on steep slopes, exposing them to landslides. These areas are neglected from services as well.
Source: https://www.iied.org/can-one-billion-people-informal-settlements-be-protected-climate-change
With increased urbanisation and poor supply to accommodate the population, the living standards of the cities decreased. More detailed planning and development are needed in order to accommodate the large population and insure that everyone is included and provided for.
The neglect of rural areas around and in cities
With developing countries focusing more on the development of the city itself, rural areas get neglected. This leads to effects on the food systems due to higher consumption and less agricultural land, inequality in the income distribution and job opportunities. Rural-urban immigration increases due to the circumstances in the rural areas, but with time and an increase in the population in urban areas, governments can provide for everyone and new informal rural areas emerge.
Small town decay, Jagersfontein, Free State South Africa.
On a sad note, a week ago a dam wall caved in Jagerfontein and flooded the entire town. What's even more terrible is that the dam was full of contaminated mine water
Source: https://www.sapeople.com/2020/11/30/haunting-photos-capture-decay-of-some-small-south-african-towns/
Entrance of Koffiefontein, South Africa. This was taken over 15 years ago.
Source: https://copperkettleguesthouse.co.za/history-of-koffiefontein/
Entrance of Koffiefontein, South Africa. This was taken in 2020. I recently visited the town and the kettle hanging from the board was missing.
Source: https://www.sapeople.com/2020/11/30/haunting-photos-capture-decay-of-some-small-south-african-towns/
Financial Resources
Countries experience a gap in their housing plan due to a lack of financial resources. In order to address this gap, cities could provide public housing to low-income families. The housing needs to be provided with basic services. Another way to address this is by providing social housing for low-income families.
Aerial view of rural Vermont town. This rural area is well kept, it's clear that plans and finances are available for the town.
Source: https://pixels.com/featured/1-aerial-view-of-rural-vermont-town-don-landwehrle.html
Sources
Please note that I make use of various articles to form my posts. All articles used are listed below. Feel free to download and read them!
Henilane, I. 2016. Housing concept and analysis of housing classification. Baltic Journal of Real Estate Economics and Construction Management, 4(1), pp.168-179.
Hewes, M. 2017. Housing Needs Are Different To Housing Demand. [online] Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/f0bc36c6-d6d6-11e7-8c9a-d9c0a5c8d5c9
Ramsay, A.M. 1945. Housing problems. The Australian Quarterly, 17(4), pp.87-94.
Sheibani, G., & Havard, T. 2018. Housing Concept, Problem, and Policies. [online] Available from: https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB16799.pdf
That's a huge difference between the old and 2020 entrance to Koffiefontein 😟
There is 😢. The entire town has degraded... One is unable to deive on the roads, some buildings are abandond, there are shops (that are still open) with roofs falling in, and the municipality is unable to provide the community with services... There is a mine within the town and in South Africa, mines are responsible for giving back to communities.. 2 years ago the min was providing water to the town, but for my understanding the mine has decreased the capacity. So with no maintenance and no service this little town is just waiting for final death and abandonment... However, I don't think it wil ever be completely abandoned, the community is very poor and moving will not likely be possible for them.
Small mining towns is South Africa is a sad topic to think about and even more so to study 🥲
What a sad situation! Reality can be so harsh. As difficult as it is to learn about such conditions, it's important that people understand how it came to be. If we don't remember our past, how do we work for a better future?
In some ways your article makes me think of the ghost towns in the American southwest. People would flood into an area where a new mine was discovered and create a town only to abandon it 10 or 20 years later when the water went bad or the mine ran dry.
Thanks for sharing your research. ✍️
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