5.1. Access to Resources

And also, this is a kind of partial upgrade with reclaimed materials they have developed with the kind of whatever, they have able to procure from the past site or with their feasibilities, they have made some modifications to their shelters. And within a month 53% of the house owners have started to upgrade their shelters and this is very quick, within a month if this kind of change is 53%. The priorities were first doors, second walls and the third is windows, so the ventilation aspect.

This part discusses the improvements made by house owners to their shelters, focusing on the quick rate of upgrade (53% in one month). It outlines the priority areas for upgrades, starting from doors, then walls, and finally windows, which emphasize the importance of ventilation in living spaces.

Imagine that you live in a small apartment and you want to make it comfortable. You first decide to replace the old doors, which might not close properly, then you focus on the walls to keep the apartment warm, and finally, ensure that the windows can open to let fresh air in. Just like that, house owners are making these incremental improvements to ensure their shelters are livable.

And some beneficiaries bought their own timber for walls, doors and windows as we have seen in this complete set is in a timber. For the outset and used the plastic sheeting provided to the line of the walls, so they covered with a kind of partial covering with a plastic sheet. Others sold a plastic sheeting and hired the local artisans to build adobe walls. So, they have given it back and they sold it in the market and they could able to get some money and they could able to put some more money and built the adobe walls.

This part explains how beneficiaries are using their resources efficiently. Some purchased timber to make parts of their shelters, while others decided to sell plastic sheeting to pay for local artisans to construct sturdier adobe walls. This reflects a creative approach to construction, where individuals use their own economic resources to improve their living conditions.

Think of it like using your old toys to buy new ones. For instance, if you have a bike that you no longer use, you might sell it to buy materials that help you build a treehouse. People are doing something similar by utilizing what they have economically to build better homes.

And some paid for the labour in kind using the tools they were given in the shelter kit and some sold their tools once shelters were complete to buy household furnishings.

In this segment, we see how some individuals opted to use the tools provided in their shelter kits to assist in construction, effectively participating in the labor required for building their homes. Once completed, others sold these tools to finance household furnishings, demonstrating a practical approach to resource management.

Imagine if you borrowed tools from a friend to fix your bicycle. Once you’re done, you don’t need the tools anymore, so you sell them online to buy accessories like a helmet or a bike lock. Similarly, people are using tools provided to them, and when they no longer need them, they sell them for other essential items.

So, with this, the government have understood that yes there is a possibility that to scale up this process. So, now what they did was they developed from 18 square meters to 20 square meters and the permanent walls of adobe and timber and they launched the project build about 40,000 low cost houses. So, by the end of March 2009, it is about 16,240 were built and mainly with the partnership of UNHCR and MoSSP.

This section emphasizes the government's recognition of the successful upgrade process initiated by the community. It mentions the expansion of housing size and plans for a larger project to construct 40,000 low-cost houses, showing how collaboration with organizations like UNHCR contributed to this goal.

Imagine a local bakery that started to sell a few loaves of bread and saw them quickly disappear. Encouraged by their success, the bakery owner partners with a local farmer to buy more wheat and plans to expand their bakery. Much like this scenario, the government's acknowledgment of community initiatives led to a large-scale housing project.

But when you talk about the theoretical understanding of it, you know as I said you in the beginning transition shelter is not a noun, it is a verb, it is a process. So, as Christopher Alexander describes a house is an activity which is ‘created gradually, as a direct result of living which is happening in it and around it’ by people who spend only what they can afford.

This segment presents the idea that shelter is regarded as a process of transition rather than just a static object. It conveys how housing evolves based on inhabitants' needs and their economic capacity, framing home-building as an activity that reflects their living experiences.

Think of building a sandcastle at the beach. You start with a basic shape but keep modifying it as you add decorations and changes based on what you want or what others around you are building. A house functions similarly; it's shaped around the people living in it and their unique experiences.

When you start living in it, you realize that you know, what you need and accordingly people start amending that, not only within the house, around the house. And this is the similar observations made from John F.C. Turner on his work in Mexico, housing by people. So, that is where he talks about the use value derived from this approach was more significant than the market value.

This part discusses the concept that the subjective value of housing for users (use value) is more important than the economic value tied to it (market value). It shows how individuals adapt their homes not just for aesthetics but for practical and personal reasons that enhance their quality of life.

Consider a favorite old car that someone drives, which may not have a high resale value, but holds memories and personal significance. They may choose to maintain it because it fulfills their needs more than any fancy new car could. Housing is similar; it’s about how well it serves the needs of the people living in it, rather than its price on the market.

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