Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
28
Housing problems in the developed world
Keith Jacobs
interventions, anticipating the types of problem that
are likely to occur and the potential policy responses
in developing countries.
INTRODUCTION
It is paradoxical that in spite of economic growth
and technological innovation in the developed
countries of the world, many people still experience
serious housing problems over the course of their
lives. These problems are most prevalent for
working people unable to secure regular
employment and those households who, through
illhealth or old age, are reliant on state welfare for
their income. Poor-quality housing has important
implications. Inadequate housing can undermine
good health, impede educational attainment and
jeopardise an individual's employment prospects. At
a social level, poor housing has a detrimental impact
on the environment, the economy and
neighbourhood communities.
Although many people might have housing
problems, this chapter confines itself to looking at
some of the housing problems that poor people
experience in the developed world and the steps
undertaken by governments to address the most
pressing difficulties. The first part is primarily
theoretical and seeks both to untangle the nature of
these housing problems and to understand the
reasons why governments intervene.The second part
of the chapter develops this discussion by providing
three case studies to illustrate specific measures
adopted by central government, and statutory and
local agencies to address acute housing problems.The
case studies examine council housing renewal in
London;
street homelessness in
New York;
and finally,
efforts to tackle social exclusion in
Toulouse
. T h e
conclusion explores possible future government
DEFINING HOUSING PROBLEMS
How then should we view housing problems?
Usually, the housing problems experienced by
those on limited incomes are viewed as an
inevitable outcome of an increasing reliance on
market mechanisms to allocate resources. Under a
market system, individuals with the most resources
will secure the best-quality homes and those with
least resources will end up living in the poorest
housing. At a fundamental level, many of the
poor's housing problems in developing countries
can be traced back to the difficulties that
individuals have in securing
affordable
housing.
However, other factors also need to be considered,
especially if we are to understand why certain
housing issues become problems. In particular,
there is a need to explore how ideology and power
conflicts impact on both the definition of a
problem
and
subsequent
government
intervention.
To explore these issues, it is necessary to adopt a
critical approach, recognising how government and
powerful interest groups promote particular issues
as
problems
that need tackling in specific ways. A
useful contribution has been advanced by Kemeny
(1992). He argues that it is important to understand
how
powerful groups are able to successfully
define
certain issues as a
problem
that requires resolution.
