Adequate housing is fundamental to improving living standards among poor and low-income households because it is one of the major components of the social infrastructure, the lack of which begins to offset the positive effects of economic development. Without adequate shelter, families are condemned to poverty, poor health, low educational attainment, and vulnerability to natural disasters and the chaos of civil conflict. Lack of safe, affordable, decent housing is a major contributor to poverty and affects all aspects of a family and community’s life. Globally, one billion people live in inadequate housing, with more than 100 million people living in conditions classified as homeless. The World Health Organization estimated that some 1.2 billion people in developing countries lack access to drinking water and 1.8 billion people live without access to adequate sanitation, which poses a high risk of morbidity and mortality.