5. Housing Procurement Methods

In Turkey, there are 2 different methods of procurement; one is mass housing and the self-help housing. In this process, the government acquires land and here it is Ministry of Public Works and Services also, the minister now, it has been renamed; Minister of Environment and Urban Planning also provides design specifications and also the cost estimations. And these locations are determined by availability of land and safety, in terms of earthquake risk, it is a terrain area; what kind of geological conditions exist. Surveyors provide the information and that is how they decide on these mass development projects, so that is where a contract, I mean, if contractors in this, they directly deliver the housing.

The mass housing approach in Turkey involves the government taking the initiative to build homes for survivors of disasters. This includes the government acquiring land and the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning providing the necessary design specifications and cost estimations. Additionally, land availability and safety considerations, such as the risk of earthquakes, are assessed by surveyors before deciding on project locations. Following these assessments, contracting firms are engaged to construct the housing units directly.

Imagine a community where a hurricane has destroyed homes. The government steps in by purchasing land that is safe and suitable for building. They create a plan for building new homes while ensuring they are under design guidelines to withstand future storms. Just like this, Turkey's mass housing approach ensures that reconstructed homes can withstand earthquakes, creating safer living environments.

In self-help housing, families are involved in the reconstruction on their own land that is one way or in relocated villages. There are different facilities like one is they call EYY; it's about kind of loan facility also, the families use the government credits to buy a furnished house. They take a loan, and the government provides them how to build and what kind of structural guidelines they have to follow. They disperse, they set up different stages of construction and they say at this plinth level, this is what we deliver you the money and this is a sill level; this is what we deliver you, and this is the completion of the slab; this is the amount, so that way they distributed by the stages and in a percentage basis.

Self-help housing in Turkey empowers families to become active participants in rebuilding their homes. Families can either construct on their own land or in new villages designated for relocated individuals. The process is supported through loan facilities (EYY) that allow families to use government credits to buy furnished homes. The government not only provides financial assistance but also shares guidance on construction, outlining specific stages of building where funds are released only after completion of each stage. This method encourages ownership and sustainability.

Consider a scenario where a family lost their house to an earthquake. They partner with the government for help but are also responsible for building their new home. The government gives them a loan and guidelines on how to construct a safe house. As they finish different parts of the house—like laying the foundation or putting up walls—they receive money to keep going. It's like building a LEGO house: you get pieces as you complete each section, promoting a sense of achievement and ownership over their new home.

In mass housing approach, there are many issues; one is these projects are mainly developed with a general data and because they only talk about yes, this many houses have collapsed and this many households have to be relocated, they don’t give much regard to the local situation, what kind of environment it is, what kind of the you know the situation of the community, what kind of livelihood they are related to, is it going to affect something of their livelihood, it is going to affect the children's school environment?

Mass housing projects often prioritize speed and volume over community-specific needs. They typically rely on general data to determine how many homes need to be rebuilt without considering the unique characteristics of the local environment or community dynamics. This can lead to housing that does not meet the social or economic needs of the residents, potentially disrupting their daily lives, schools, and overall well-being.

Imagine if a school decided to build a new playground without asking the kids what they wanted. The administrators might put up general equipment, but what if the kids wanted a soccer field instead? In the same way, mass housing projects may miss out on the real needs of the families they serve, leading to discontent and difficulties adapting to new surroundings.

The second aspect is allocation process, so the houses are distributed by lottery method like number 56, this is your house, number 52 this is; despite of what kind of settlement it was existed, what kind of neighborhood fabric it was existed, it is all completely taken out due to the lottery approach.

The lottery-based allocation in mass housing leads to significant emotional and social ramifications for residents. Homes are assigned randomly, irrespective of their previous community ties or living arrangements. This method can break up established social networks and community bonds, causing tension among new neighbors who may have differing backgrounds or lifestyles.

Think about a group of friends who always sit together in the school cafeteria. If one day, they are told to sit randomly at new tables, they might struggle to connect with their new classmates. Similarly, the lottery system in mass housing forces people from familiar neighborhoods to blend into new groups, which can take time and make the transition difficult.

And the payments for these houses often they are too high and especially, for the people you know, they are not able to afford, so that is where it was since the conditions of the poverty because they have to end up paying some extra installments and they also have to pay it from maintenance bills, individual maintenance bills so, they all add up to a big sum of money.

Financial pressures from high housing payments pose a significant challenge for disaster survivors, many of whom are already in precarious economic situations. The costs don't just stop at the purchase of a house; ongoing expenses like maintenance bills can compound financial strain, making it difficult for families to make ends meet.

Consider someone who struggles even to buy enough groceries each month. If suddenly they have to pay rent for a new apartment along with utility bills, it becomes overwhelming. This situation echoes the struggles faced by families in mass housing who are forced to juggle increased financial obligations, which can lead to long-term hardship.

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