RE: The key debates in housing approaches (Part 3) ~ Short Article * 7
(Edited)
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"... the gouvernement to supply housing ." ? In most advanced economies housing is a domain left to the private market. Government intervention is usually "at the margin", to achieve public policy objectives and correct market imbalances ... but the vast majority of the housing supply is expected to be provided by the private market .... If on the conteary the government is expected to supply housing, I'd posit it is an indication of policy failure ...
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Agreed. But that is the point, in places such as South Africa, which is a third world country, housing is supplied by the government and the private market. Not all countries are economically advanced. In first world countries this is definitely a policy issue. There are still first world countries where government supply social housing. Government will always have to step in if things go wrong.
Interesting because South Africa is presented as "the African's continent biggest economy" and also the "S" of the BRICS so one gets the impression that RSA is an advanced economy...
I'm aware of BRICS, I'm an Urban Planner in South Africa. Unfortunately what the world know of us is not what's going on here. We have a poverty rate of more than 50%. We have children who never finish school, 70% of our country make use of informal transport on a daily. Our rural areas are dying due to lack of investment.
The world looks at Cape Town and Johannesburg and think the entire South Africa looks like that. As a planner who works with poor communities I can tell you that's not the case. The BRICS is helping a lot with advancing our economy, but SA is still a country in poverty, with the gap between rich and poor increasing. I'm currently working on a housing project colse to my town, and most of those people don't have anby income, food and proper shelter. At this point the government steps in to help these people. We are providing financial aid and teaching them how to build. Sustainable materials is supplied to make these communities more resilient.
If perhaps your interested and have time, go read a bit about SA poverty and informal settlements. I think this will help you see the side of South Africa a lot of people are not aware of. The country is not just formal urban spaces, we really struggle with housings.
As you said... In most advanced economies.... This is hardly the case for South Africa, with more than 70% of the country being poor... I say 70% percent as an estimate.. Not as a fact...
But the majority of the country doesn't even have access to basic needs such as water and electricity... So for them to build their own housing on a below minimum wage is just impossible.. Especially if you can't even feed yourself..
So the general housing issue falls back to a govermental responsibility.