Affordable Housing for the Rural Poor in Less Developed Economies

Housing development, a basic unit of human settlement is also a crucial component of social development. It plays an important role in achieving sustainable development. The concept of shelter differs from individual to individual depending on culture, tradition, profession, and way of living. Besides being a basic necessity, it is also a source of identity that significantly affects the overall psychological well-being of the inhabitants. Sustainable- affordable habitat could be described as a way of developing and maintaining the living environment supporting human health (both physical and psychological), satisfying shelter needs, and protecting and preserving nature for future generations.

This paper introduces a conceptual framework defining housing problems from the perspective of beneficiaries supporting the development of effective policies to facilitate Sustainable and affordable habitat. The framework shows the interdependency of different sustainability aspects in the housing development process. It also sets out strategies and identifies policy initiatives required to realize the goal of a sustainable- affordable habitat. The framework developed in this paper can be generally applied to analyze the housing situation of the poor in less developed economies.

Also Read: Green, Healthy, Affordable, and Resilient Housing