Housing Flashcards
Define “housing shortage”.
Housing shortage is present when there is insufficient housing to accommodate the population in an area, when the supply of houses cannot meet the demand. It also includes situations where housing is unaffordable for those who need it.
Define “slums and squatter settlement”.
Slums and squatter settlements are densely populated urban areas where residents live in poor quality housing and lack access to basic services.
Why is there lack of safe shelter in slums.
The houses in slums and squatter settlements have weak foundations. They have unstable walls and roofs made of poor quality materials like zinc and cardboard. Such houses collapse easily during a natural disaster. Most of the construction materials are flammable and this increases the risk of fires in slums.
The houses are usually built on unsuitable sites such as low-lying areas or steep slopes and are more prone to floods and landslides. The houses in a slum are built in a dense and disorderly manner. There are narrow paths with limited access for vehicles. During emergencies, the residents may not be able to evacuate quickly and rescue efforts are also hampered.
What are some basic services that people in slums lack?
electricity, clean water, proper sanitation and waste disposal
Define “rural-urban migration”
Rural-urban migration refers to the movement of people from the rural areas into cities to live and work.
Why do people move into cities.
better life and more job opportunity
Reasons for high birth rates
Cities have a large proportion of people who are in their 20s and 30s who are likely to start families. This leads to above-average rates of fertility which contributes to higher birth rates.
4 uses of land
residential, commercial, industrial and recreational.
Explain how limited land supply causes housing shortages.
The presence of physical features such as sea, rivers and mountains limit the amount of land that can be used to build housing. Moreover, flat land is preferred as the cost of construction on steep slopes tend to be high and landslides may also occur on slopes.
Define “homelessness”
Homelessness is a lack of shelter in which to sleep and to carry out basic activities such as bathing.
Health impacts of homelessness
Homelessness can have a negative impact on an individual’s health due to exposure to the cold or rain, hunger and lack of sleep. They may suffer from illnesses such as skin infections.
Explain how slums causes land and water pollution.
Water pollution is common in slums as rivers near slums areas may be used for washing, garbage and sewage disposal. Contaminants from sewage can also seep into the groundwater and pollute nearby water sources such as wells. Land pollution is common in slums due to the lack of a garbage disposal system which results in dumping of garbage into open drains and areas outside the houses. The garbage heap can generate a foul smell and also become an eyesore.
State and explain the reason of people having low level of health in slums.
Generally, people living in slums do not have access to safe drinking water. When people use water from unsafe sources, the water may have bacteria which cause diseases, such as cholera.
In addition, houses in slums are overcrowded and it is common to find a large family of six or more living in a small room. The houses are closely spaced and this facilitates the rapid spread of diseases.
What are the 4 things people in slums are vulnerable to?
Fires, landslide, eviction and cause of social tension.
Define “self-help schemes”
Self-help schemes are schemes that involve the participation of low-income households to improve the conditions of existing housing.
