Understanding squatters and slums in the context of urban planning and development : A presentation

1. Understanding slums and squatters
Rajendra P Sharma
rpsharma@mailcity.com

2. Urban Squatters and Slums Settlements:
What is the difference?
"Slums" are highly congested urban areas marked by deteriorated, unsanitary
buildings, poverty, and social disorganization.
"Squatters" settle on land, especially public or unoccupied land, without right or"Squatters" settle on land, especially public or unoccupied land, without right or
title. Squatters include those who settles on public land under regulation by the
government, in order to get title to it.
Simplifying
• slums refer to the environmental aspects of the area where a community
resides, while squatters refer to the legality of the land ownership and other
infrastructure provision.

3. Types of slum
1. Degraded old planned urban areas
2. Unplanned informal squatter settlements2. Unplanned informal squatter settlements
Most slum dwellers in the developing world live in this type of slum

4. What makes a residential area a slum?
The low income (poverty) of who live there?
The living conditions?The living conditions?
The lack of basic urban services?
Other aspects?

5. UN-Habitat definition of Slums:
neglected parts of cities, in which living conditions
are appallingly poorare appallingly poor

6. by looking in detail at one case, inside one city,
rather than by analyzing/discussing in general
ShankhamulShankhamul
Ichangunarayan
Kirtipur
Pokhara

7. Size of the problem
World population 2000 2030
(million)
High-income countriesHigh-income countries
Urban 800 900
Rural 200 200
Low(/middle)-income countries
Urban 2000 4000
Rural 3000 3000

8. Urban population in slums
Percentage of urban population living in slums
Africa 61
(sub-sahara Africa 70)(sub-sahara Africa 70)
Asia 42
Latin America & Car. 32
Oceania 24
Europe, N-America 6

9. Number of slum dwellers
2000: 920 million
2030: 2000 million ??2030: 2000 million ??
MDG: improve conditions for
100 million slum dwellers (??)

10. Past strategies to solve the problem of slums
1960/70: Public housing, resettlement
1970/80: Sites and services
1980 - : Slum upgrading1980 - : Slum upgrading
1990 - : Slum networking
BUT THE PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN

11. WHY DID PROBLEMS GROW ?
• Lack of money to do something about it?
• Not knowing what to do ?
• Lack of civil rights of slum dwellers ?
• Lack of interest of slum dwellers ?
• Resistance by slum-gangs, slum-lords ?
• Lack of interest of decision makers ?
• ….. ?

12. ISSUES
If squatters are given tenure, will others be encouraged
to move to the cities ?

13. ISSUES
Why should slum dwellers be given tenure on valuable land in a city
which would be better used for commercial development ?

14. ISSUES
Why should single story or low rise upgrading be permitted on valuable
central city land, which could be developed to a higher density ?central city land, which could be developed to a higher density ?

15. ISSUES
If the slums are upgraded on private land, is public money being used
to make the rich slumlords richer ?

16. ISSUES
Do slum dwellers use their own resources to improve their living
conditions ?
Does public money need to be used ?

17. ISSUES
What is the value to the citizens
who do not live in slums,
when upgrading slumswhen upgrading slums
rather than demolishing them?

18. ISSUES
Better living conditions involve:
Housing, buildings
Access and drainageAccess and drainage
Sanitation
Water supply
Electricity
Open spaces, trees

19. Issues
Location:
Is resettlement to distant locations
far from city centersfar from city centers
Is it in the interest of the slum dwellers ?

20. Issues
What is the role of basic urban infrastructure in slum improvement ?
Sanitation (excreta, sullage, solid waste)
Access and drains
Water supplyWater supply
But what about improving the houses?

21. Do we have good technical answers ?
What options do we have for:
Sanitation facilities?
Roads and drains ?Roads and drains ?
Water supply?
Are these affordable? (price tag)
Are these sustainable? (keep functioning)
How depend on density, soil, climate, …?

22. Experience
Upgrading of slums and settlements is a viable and effective way to help the urban poor solve their
need for shelter and a clean, safe and healthy living environment.
Local participation is critical. Projects need to be designed from the bottom up working with
communities so that the communities decide what levels of service they receive.
Sustainability requires that consideration be given to the costs involved and to designing a level of
service that is affordable to the community and to the local government.
Programs must be derived from the city level and country strategies to achieve synergies with
other supporting interventions addressing poverty in the country.
Upgrading programs are most effective when led by the municipal authority and implemented at the
community level through a broad set of intermediaries including community based organizations.
Experience has taught us that the problem of getting basic services to slums can be solved at very
reasonable costs if done properly.

23. What to do?

24. Focus
Basic infrastructure provision as an instrument for slum upgrading
(Integrated: sanitation, access and drainage, water supply)(Integrated: sanitation, access and drainage, water supply)

25. Steps
Study the case
Brief literature/internet search to find comparable cases and what has
been done there (with or without success)
Problem analysisProblem analysis
Inventory of the basic infrastructure system and choices
Assess of the different infrastructure, choices, and affordability

26. Differences between SLUMS and SQUATTERS
Slum Squatters
Yes Access to improved sanitation Yes
Yes Access to safe water Yes
Yes Durability of housing YesYes Durability of housing Yes
Yes Sufficient living area Yes
Yes Secure tenure No

27. Thank you