This paper looks at the evolution of housing policy, particularly for lower-income groups, from Independence to the present day. Amongst other trends, it observes that the government’s role has moved increasingly from a direct provider to an enabler of housing. Concurrently, there has been a steady erosion in the entitlement of the poor to government support in the provision of housing. This paper describes these policy trends and the philosophies underpinning these changes over time.

In keeping with the development consensus of the time, housing provision in roughly the two decades post-independence was heavily dominated by the state. The private sector only has a limited role to play in housing for lower income groups, although their participation and investment in housing for middle and higher income groups was significant.