6.3. Materials and Labour Challenges

And also, this is a kind of partial upgrade with reclaimed materials they have the 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%.

In the initial phase, homeowners began upgrading their shelters using materials that they reclaimed or could obtain from previous sites. This quick adaptation led to 53% of the homeowners making improvements within just a month. This indicates a strong desire to enhance their living conditions rapidly.

Imagine a group of friends living in an old house. They decide to make some changes using furniture and materials they find or that they already own. In a month, half of them manage to create a more comfortable and appealing living space, showing how small efforts can lead to significant changes.

The priorities were first doors, second walls and the third is windows, so the ventilation aspect. And some beneficiaries bought their own timber for walls, doors and windows as we have seen in this complete set is in a timber.

The .homeowners prioritized which parts of their shelters to upgrade first. They focused on doors, then walls, and lastly windows to enhance ventilation. Some beneficiaries even invested in timber to construct these crucial elements, emphasizing the importance of basic infrastructure for their comfort and safety.

Think of upgrading an old car. You would first replace the doors for safety, then address bodywork, and finally improve the windows for better visibility. Likewise, the shelter upgrades follow a logical order based on necessity.

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.

Beneficiaries also found ways to generate income through their assigned materials. By selling plastic sheeting, they could afford local artisans to construct adobe walls, highlighting a community's resourcefulness during challenging times. This process reflects an incremental upgrade tailored to individual households' economic situations.

It’s similar to how families might sell old toys they no longer need to purchase something more valuable. By trading what they can afford to lose, they manage to improve their situation and invest in something better.

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 constructing their shelters, some households utilized their provided tools as a form of payment for labour. Others opted to sell the tools after finishing to purchase items for their homes, showing adaptability in resource management and prioritization of immediate needs.

Consider a person who borrows a neighbor's lawnmower to mow a yard. Once done, they might sell the mower to buy flowers for their garden. It reflects a strategic exchange where tools are invested into completing a task, which then facilitates further improvements.

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.

The government's recognition of the effectiveness of these incremental upgrades led to an expanded initiative, increasing the size of shelters and launching a large-scale building project aimed at constructing around 40,000 low-cost houses. This demonstrates a shift from temporary solutions to more durable housing.

Think of a community bake sale that starts small but gains popularity. As more people participate and the event proves fruitful, organizers decide to increase the scale of future events, adding more baked goods and attracting more buyers.

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.

Transitional shelter should be viewed not merely as a physical structure but as an ongoing process. This emphasizes the active engagement of individuals in creating their living environments gradually, based on personal necessity and evolving situations.

Replacing a worn-out pair of shoes over time illustrates this concept. Instead of purchasing an expensive brand-new pair all at once, one may start by replacing parts, opting for different styles gradually in response to comfort and changing needs.

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