2.1. Government Housing Support Statistics

When we assess the self-help housing reconstruction method, we see that in Turkey first of all the central government which these ministries and the general director of disaster affairs and with the local governor of the state level, they look at the 3 different options. One is give them the cash credits, direct financial credits to the homeowner, so what they can do is; they can purchase a new house from the property developer wherein the second aspect, we have the provide technical support plus stage by stage you give some certain payments on construction; to completion of the construction that is delivered to the homeowner. And he again relies on the either a beneficiary managed construction or it could be he relies on the designers of the building contractors who hire, so in that way, that is another process. Whereas in option 3, it is completely a government-managed construction so, in this, they rely on the contractor, so agency driven process and they finish the house and they deliver it to the homeowner so, this is how the self-house mechanism has been conceptualized.

In Turkey, the self-help housing reconstruction method has three main options provided by the government. The first option includes cash credits directly given to homeowners, allowing them to buy a new house from a developer. The second option involves the government providing technical support and a phased payment system to help homeowners construct their own houses. The third option is a government-managed construction process where the contractor builds the house directly for the homeowner. This system is designed to provide different levels of assistance based on individual needs.

Imagine a mother wanting to build a house for her family. She has three paths to choose from: one path gives her money to buy a pre-built house, another path offers her guides and support on how to build her own house step-by-step, and the last path has workers come in to build the house for her while she just watches. Each path suits different needs and situations.

And even in this process, there are so especially, in the housing process especially, in after the 2000 Cankiri earthquake, there are also some other shortcomings; one is the house designs offered by the government have very little regard to local rural living styles and while families can choose to use their own design, this entails hiring an architect which the owner must pay for in manage themselves.

Despite the various options for housing support, there are deficiencies in how these programs address the needs of different communities. For example, the designs provided by the government are often not suitable for local rural living styles. Families wanting to adapt these designs or create their own must hire architects at their own expense, which can be a financial burden and frustrating for those needing assistance.

Think of it like a school where students only have one style of desk to use, which doesn't fit all students well. Some students may need a standing desk or one with wheels for easier movement. If they want a different style, they have to pay for it themselves, which isn't fair when they are supposed to be receiving help.

Here, in this process, though the government is ready to give them a training or provide guidance on how to build a technical support, so but it takes a long time to educate the owners about earthquake-safe constructions and design because it depends on their literacy levels, depends on the social and cooperation, how they come in negotiation.

The government provides training and support to homeowners regarding safe construction methods, but this process can be lengthy. The effectiveness of this training often depends on the homeowners' literacy levels and their ability to cooperate. Some families may face difficulties in understanding and implementing the earthquake-safe designs due to these factors.

Imagine a new driver learning to drive a car. If the instructor is patient and thorough, the driver can learn well, but if the driver struggles to understand the rules or the vehicle, it can take much longer to learn. Similarly, families need adequate support and time to grasp the concepts of safe building.

And in many cases, it has been noted that contractors run away with some basic deposits and maybe having a small verbal agreements with the owners and they run away so, in that way the whole project leave left incomplete.

A recurring issue in the reconstruction process is that some contractors do not fulfill their commitments. There are cases where contractors take a deposit from homeowners, promise to start work, but then disappear, leaving projects uncompleted and families without the homes they need.

This situation is like hiring a painter to paint your house. You pay them a deposit to start the job, but once you pay, the painter never shows up again. Your house remains unpainted and you are out of money, just as families are left without homes.

In the disaster acts or whatever they has been, it is mainly focus on whether someone owns something and whether it is lost and so that he can be compensated whether in the form of insurance, whether in the form of; then what about a renter; you know he was not having a house and he was completely ignored, so that is where one has to look at how these neglected groups who are basically the renting community.

Many of the disaster recovery policies focus on compensating homeowners for their losses, ignoring renters who also suffer when homes are lost. There is increasing recognition that this group should also receive attention and support to prevent them from becoming homeless.

Consider a community that donates food after a disaster, but only provides meals to the homeowners. The renters who lived in those homes are left hungry and with no aid, representing a group also in dire need. Both groups must be considered for aid in such situations.

So, this is where the turkey realized the sense of the self-approved, self-help development process and that is where the new approaches, the new partnerships has been developed, this is what we are going to discuss about 3 in different cases and in the Duzce province.

Recognizing the necessity for more effective housing solutions, Turkey developed new partnerships for self-help housing initiatives. The document indicates that the following sections will examine three case studies in Duzce province, showcasing these innovative approaches.

It’s like starting a new school project where students form groups to work together, each bringing their unique skills to the table. This collaboration can lead to better outcomes than each student working alone. In housing, new partnerships can enable more comprehensive solutions.

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