It says about informal settlements in the US, which accommodate more than 50 percent of the population of many cities. They are characterized by flexible, responsive, and affordable housing processes that enable families to extend and improve their dwellings over time. At the same time, their legal status is usually insecure, they are under-serviced by urban infrastructure, are often in unhealthy living environments, and in some cases are physically unsafe. With a better understanding of urban poverty and new approaches to urban planning and management, there is a strong case for governments to initiate and support incremental housing strategies as a major component of integrated urban development.