6.4. People and Governance

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%.

This chunk discusses the process of upgrading shelters using reclaimed materials. It highlights that more than half of the house owners (53%) made improvements within a month, showcasing a rapid response to the need for better living conditions. The upgrade process involves using materials that were available to them nearby, indicating a community-driven approach to improvement.

Imagine a neighborhood where people come together after a storm to repair their houses. Most families quickly bring out any materials they have at home—like old wood or plastic sheets—to fix the roofs. In this scenario, just like in the text, many families manage to make their homes safer and more comfortable only a short time after the storm.

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. 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.

The chunk outlines the order of priorities for upgrading shelter: doors, walls, and windows. It illustrates that beneficiaries often purchased timber for construction and used plastic sheeting to improve their living conditions. This structured approach to upgrading ensures that essential aspects of the home are addressed first, enhancing both security and ventilation.

Think of it like building a tree house. First, you would put on the door to secure it, then set up the walls for safety, and finally add windows for light and air. Just like the tree house, the order of construction helps make sure the shelter is both safe and comfortable.

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 and so this whole process you know, it’s all showing up an incremental process depending on each household what kind of economic feasibility they had, what kind of infill they are responding to their needs and demands.

This section explains how some families decided to sell plastic sheeting to raise funds for hiring local artisans to construct adobe walls. This approach reflects the idea of incremental improvements, suggesting that each household works within its means and gradually enhances their living conditions based on financial capabilities and individual needs.

Imagine a family needing to repair an old car. They might sell some unused furniture to afford repairs. Bit by bit, they save enough to not only fix the car but also improve it with better parts. In the same way, these families use what they have to build stronger shelters piece by piece.

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 chunk reveals how the government recognized the potential for scaling up shelter improvements based on community efforts. They increased the size of the houses and initiated a project to construct 40,000 low-cost homes, demonstrating a significant response to the housing needs identified in the community.

Think of a school noticing that students are struggling with outdated textbooks. The school might decide to not only update the books but also increase the number of books available so more students can learn. Just like this, the government is expanding housing to meet the growing needs of its people.

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 section emphasizes that transitional shelters are about the ongoing process of improving living spaces rather than simply being structures. According to Christopher Alexander, a house evolves as people inhabit it and make it their own, which reflects the concept that shelter is deeply tied to personal experience and growth.

Consider a garden that grows over time. Initially, you plant seeds in the ground, but as seasons change, you nurture the garden, adding plants and ornaments. This transformation illustrates how shelters grow and adapt based on the people's experiences—just as a garden flourishes with care and effort.

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. This is the similar observations made from John F.C. Turner on his work in Mexico, housing by people.

The text discusses how individuals adapt their shelters based on their experiences and needs. John F.C. Turner highlights that the value of a house comes more from its functionality and the happiness it brings to its inhabitants rather than its market price. This reflects the idea that personal comfort and utility in housing take precedence over purely economic considerations.

Think of a homemade meal compared to a fancy restaurant dish. A meal prepared at home can provide more comfort and satisfaction because it's tailored to your taste, even if it doesn't look as polished as a restaurant presentation. Likewise, the joy and usefulness of a home create deeper value than what it might sell for on the market.

And similarly, John Habraken supports on 3 levels of decision making; one is the tissue and the support which is the base building. The tissue refers to the urban fabric and the support refers to the base building and the fitout refers to the infill, what the people have done in their houses and the tissue tends to remain the same because it’s a larger content and the supports will change with time and infill will change more regularly.

This segment presents John Habraken's framework for understanding decision-making in housing, which consists of three levels: tissue (the broader community context), support (the physical structure), and fitout (the individual modifications made by inhabitants). It highlights that while the urban context remains stable, buildings and their interiors can change frequently, reflecting evolving needs.

Imagine a library as the tissue of knowledge, the building itself as the support, and the books and furniture as the fitout. While the library’s purpose remains constant, the specific books and furniture can be updated or changed over time to meet the needs of its patrons.

Similarly, buildings are also essentially made of 6 time bound layers. This is space time phenomenon which Ian Bentley also talks about it. One is a site, which generally does not change, although a few buildings are transportable. The structure, the foundations and load bearing element are expensive to change because in the structure, once if you setup the foundation, it is very difficult to change.

This chunk describes that buildings consist of six layers that evolve over time. These layers include the site, structure, skin, services, space plan, and the intermediate elements. It notes that while some components, like the site, remain constant, other aspects are updated or require maintenance, illustrating how buildings adapt and degrade over time.

Think of your favorite old car. While its frame (site) stays the same, you may update the tires (services) and interior (space plan) as they wear out. Just like a car, buildings also require different levels of attention over time to remain functional.

Once a kit is developed, if a standard structure is acceptable in a owner-driven process and this kind of intervention is upgradeable temporary shelter than budgeting, procurement and distribution of standardized kits is a relatively small, simple operation.

This section focuses on the importance of developing standardized kits for housing. It suggests that if a basic structure meets the needs of the community, distributing these kits can simplify the process of building and upgrading shelters, particularly in a context where people are taking the initiative to enhance their living situations.

Imagine providing a Lego set for a group of kids. Each set has all the pieces needed to build different structures. By allowing children to use their creativity with a standard set, they can construct whatever their imagination leads them to, making it easier for them to create something useful.

And we have to understand when we are dealing with this kind of poor communities, one has to look at the livelihoods framework, it is not just only a shelter and this is where, the defeats ASAL framework to sustainable livelihood framework is very apt and considering because how an individual or a communities or a social group, how their abilities to access certain resources whether it is a social, economic, human, natural, political.

This chunk emphasizes the need to consider the broader livelihood framework when addressing housing for poor communities. It explains that addressing shelter requires understanding access to various resources that individuals or communities depend on, such as social connections, economic opportunities, and political networks, for sustainable improvement.

Think of a plant growing in a garden. Just giving it water (shelter) isn't enough; it also needs sunlight, good soil, and protection from pests. Similarly, communities need a variety of resources, not just housing, to thrive.

The enabling approach, how we can enable this process and one is the finance you know because this is one the enabling approach recognizes the bottleneck to housing created limited access to finance.

This part introduces the enabling approach, which focuses on facilitating the housing process by addressing financial limitations. It acknowledges that many people face challenges in accessing funds, which directly impacts their ability to build or improve their homes.

Imagine wanting to open a small business but not having enough money to buy the necessary equipment. You would need a loan or financial support to make your dream a reality. Similarly, families need access to funds to build or upgrade their homes.

Also, the materials and labour because materials have a major cost implications and also inappropriate building regulations can inhabit the production of housing.

This section discusses the significance of adequate materials and labor in housing construction. It emphasizes that high costs for building materials and ineffective regulations can hinder the ability to produce necessary housing solutions, pointing out the role of governance in making housing accessible.

Consider cooking a meal where the recipe calls for expensive ingredients. If you cannot afford them, you might give up altogether. Likewise, when building regulations and material costs are too high, it can prevent communities from being able to construct the homes they need.

And the people and governance, where we talk about how we can engage the people to participate individually and as well as collectively.

The final chunk underscores the importance of engaging communities in housing decisions. It highlights that people's participation is crucial for effective national policy-making and planning. By involving them, processes become more democratic and aligned with community needs, leading to successful governance in housing.

Think of a town hall meeting where citizens discuss what parks or facilities they want in their community. When community members contribute their ideas and preferences, the final decisions are more likely to reflect what people actually need, improving overall satisfaction and success.

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