Transition Shelter as a Process - 3.1 | 10. Introduction to Transitional Shelters | Disaster Preparedness & Planning - Vol 4
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Initial Upgrades in Transitional Shelters

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Let's talk about how quickly households can improve their living conditions. Did you know that 53% of homeowners upgraded their shelters within just one month?

Student 1
Student 1

That's really fast! What changes did they prioritize?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! The focus was first on doors, then walls, and finally windows to ensure proper ventilation. Remember the acronym D.W.W. for 'Doors, Walls, Windows' to recall this order.

Student 2
Student 2

Did they use any materials that they already had?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! Many used reclaimed materials and even purchased timber to enhance their shelters. This shows the importance of resourcefulness in the process. Can anyone tell me why personalizing spaces is essential?

Student 3
Student 3

Personalizing spaces makes them feel more like home, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Personalizing these shelters transforms them into homes, reflecting individual needs.

Economics of Shelter Upgrades

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Teacher
Teacher

In our previous discussion, we mentioned resourcefulness. Can anyone explain how households financed their upgrades?

Student 2
Student 2

Some households sold plastic sheeting and hired local artisans for construction.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! This highlights a key concept: households are adapting their economic strategies based on available resources. The term 'incremental process' captures this dynamic progression.

Student 4
Student 4

What was the role of organizations like the government in this context?

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent question! The government, along with NGOs, noticed this potential and scaled the project, increasing housing from 18 to 20 square meters through partnerships. Remember, teamwork is vital in housing development.

Theoretical Frameworks in Housing Development

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Teacher
Teacher

We now shift to the theory behind housing. Who can tell me what Christopher Alexander suggested about houses?

Student 1
Student 1

He said that a house is an activity created gradually by its inhabitants.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! This reinforces that a house evolves based on the residents' experiences. Can you think of how this contrasts with traditional views of housing?

Student 3
Student 3

Traditional views see housing more as an end product rather than a process.

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, and we must also consider the concepts of use value versus market value, as highlighted by John F.C. Turner. Can anyone elaborate?

Student 4
Student 4

Turner emphasized that what housing does for the user is more important than its market value.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Focusing on the users' needs is crucial for sustainable housing practices.

Socioeconomic Framework for Housing

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's discuss the relationship between housing and socioeconomic factors. Why is it essential to analyze resources in transitional shelter contexts?

Student 2
Student 2

Understanding resources helps us see how families can access better housing.

Teacher
Teacher

That's right! It's about addressing vulnerabilities and creating opportunities. Can anyone provide an example of how this can play out in communities?

Student 1
Student 1

Maybe when people receive support, they can invest in better materials or training for construction.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Investing in support systems improves stability and well-being in their lives.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

The section discusses the process of upgrading transition shelters, highlighting incremental improvements made by households and the role of various stakeholders in facilitating these changes.

Standard

This section elaborates on the gradual process of upgrading transition shelters using reclaimed materials, the socioeconomic factors influencing these improvements, and the involvement of various organizations in supporting housing developments. The narrative underscores how the individual needs and economic situations of households play critical roles in making their living spaces more personalized and adequate.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

The chapter section titled 'Transition Shelter as a Process' emphasizes that the upgrading of transitional shelters should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a singular event. It describes the initial upgrades made by homeowners, with 53% of house owners beginning modifications within just a month. Key upgrades focus first on doors, followed by walls and windows, illustrating the prioritization of ventilation and structural integrity.

Beneficiaries utilized various strategies to enhance their homes, including purchasing timber for walls and selling plastic sheeting to fund adobe wall construction. This engagement illustrates that the transition to more permanent housing solutions involves responses shaped by individual economic feasibility, local market dynamics and personal needs.

Government and non-governmental organizations played pivotal roles in scaling this process, leading to projects constructing low-cost houses using standard plans while allowing for customization. The theoretical underpinning of this approach reflects scholarly perspectives, notably those by Christopher Alexander and John F.C. Turner, which stress the importance of livability and process over mere market value. Furthermore, layers of decision-making and the physical structure’s adaptability further complicate the understanding of housing development.

The discussion on enabling environments also underscores the interconnection between shelter and livelihood frameworks, advocating for supportive financial, regulatory, and social mechanisms. The ability to access resources, coupled with active community engagement, is crucial for transitioning families into self-reliance, marking a transformation toward stability and improved well-being.

Audio Book

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Upgrading Shelters

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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%.

Detailed Explanation

In this section, it's highlighted that many homeowners in a certain area quickly started upgrading their shelters using materials that they were able to gather from previous sites or based on their own circumstances. Remarkably, 53% of them initiated these upgrades within just a month, which indicates a rapid response to their housing needs.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine you decide to improve your room at home. You find an old bookshelf and some reclaimed wood in your garage. Within a short time, you reorganize and redecorate your space. This parallel demonstrates how homeowners are swiftly upgrading their shelters with available resources.

Priorities for Improvements

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The priorities were first doors, second walls and third is windows, so the ventilation aspect.

Detailed Explanation

Homeowners focused on specific priorities when upgrading their shelters. They prioritized installing doors first for security and convenience, followed by walls to create proper living spaces, and then windows to ensure adequate ventilation and natural light.

Examples & Analogies

Think of building a fort as a kid. First, you add a door to get in and out easily, then you build the walls to protect your space, and finally you find holes or flaps for windows so you can see outside and let in a breeze. This is akin to how homeowners prioritize their shelter improvements.

Using Resources Effectively

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And some beneficiaries bought their own timber for walls, doors and windows as we have seen in this complete set is in a timber. Others sold a plastic sheeting and hired the local artisans to build adobe walls.

Detailed Explanation

Some beneficiaries took the initiative to purchase their own timber to enhance their shelters, while others opted to sell plastic sheeting they received to hire local craftspeople to build more robust adobe walls. This illustrates how beneficiaries are resourceful and proactive in enhancing their living conditions.

Examples & Analogies

Picture using your allowance to buy supplies for a school project. Some students might buy new poster board (like timber) while others sell old supplies (like plastic sheeting) to afford hiring a skilled friend to help them make an impressive display (building adobe walls).

Labor and Resource Management

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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.

Detailed Explanation

Beneficiaries managed their resources creatively. Some used tools provided in their shelter kits to either do the work themselves or even paid locals for labor. Once their shelters were completed, they sold their tools to purchase other household items, showing adaptability and strategy in resource management.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine you are given a backpack full of art supplies for a class project. You might use those supplies (tools) to create your project (do the work) and later sell them (once you're done) to buy snacks for your friends (household furnishings).

Government and NGO Involvement

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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.

Detailed Explanation

The government recognized the success of these housing upgrades and decided to support the initiative further by increasing the size of shelter from 18 square meters to 20 square meters. They also moved towards permanent structures made of adobe and timber to provide more durable housing to citizens.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a school that sees students rapidly improving their grades thanks to a new study program. The administration decides to expand the program (from 18 to 20 square meters) and change the materials used in the curriculum (adobe and timber) for better results.

Transition Shelter as a Process

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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.

Detailed Explanation

The term 'transition shelter' should be viewed as a process rather than a static concept. This means that improving housing is ongoing and dynamic, focusing on how homeowners adapt and personalize their living spaces over time.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like learning a new skill, such as playing an instrument. You don't just learn it once and stop; instead, you continuously practice and adapt over time (a process) rather than seeing it as just the end result of knowing how to play that song (a noun).

User Value versus Market Value

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As what housing does for the user is more important than what it is. So, this is not a product, it is a process how man evolves, a house into a home.

Detailed Explanation

It's emphasized that the true value of housing lies in its utility for the individual user rather than its market price. Housing is seen as a transformative experience where a simple structure (house) becomes a meaningful living space (home) through user engagement and adaptation.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a child’s drawing. It may not be worth much in the art market, but to the parents, it represents their child's creativity and growth. That personal significance (user value) outweighs any monetary value (market value).

Levels of Decision Making in Housing

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And similarly, John Habraken supports on 3 levels of decision making; one is the tissue and the support which is the base building.

Detailed Explanation

John Habraken identifies three tiers of decision-making in housing: 'tissue' refers to the overall urban fabric (the layout of the community), 'support' indicates the structural aspects of the building, while 'infill' is about individual choices made by residents within that structure. This categorization helps clarify how participatory processes can happen at different levels.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a pizza. The dough represents the 'tissue' (base structure), the toppings you pick represent 'support' (the essential layout of ingredients), and the way you arrange those toppings is analogous to 'infill' (your personal touch to the pizza).

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Incremental Improvements: Households engage in gradual upgrades to their shelters based on available resources.

  • Economic Feasibility: The ability of households to allocate resources and finances towards upgrading their living conditions.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • A household selling its plastic sheeting to buy timber for better wall construction.

  • Local artisans being hired by families to help build adobe walls, showcasing community involvement.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • When upgrading a space, think of DWW, doors, walls, windows, make it comfy and snug.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • In a small village, families slowly turned temporary shacks into beautiful homes, one door, one wall, one window at a time, each change representing new hope.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • D.W.W. – Doors, Walls, Windows for the key areas of shelter upgrades.

🎯 Super Acronyms

U-M = Use Value > Market Value in housing principles.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Transition Shelter

    Definition:

    A temporary form of housing that is upgraded over time based on the needs and resources of the inhabitants.

  • Term: Incremental Process

    Definition:

    A gradual approach to improving housing by making small adjustments based on economic feasibility.

  • Term: Use Value

    Definition:

    The practical value derived from a house based on its utility to the inhabitants rather than its market value.

  • Term: Market Value

    Definition:

    The financial worth of a house determined by the real estate market.