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Housing shortage is a situation 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 not affordable for those who need it. The presence of homeless people, and slums and squatter settlements are also an indication of housing shortage.
Where do you think housing shortage occur?
Why does housing shortage occur?
What are the negative impacts of housing shortage?
Who are the ones affected by housing shortage?
When did housing shortage occur in Singapore?
How can housing shortage be managed?
Do you think there are any homeless people in Singapore?
A recent survey in 2019 showed that there are 1000 homeless.
Read more about it @
Why do you think they are homeless?
Do you think it is due to housing shortage?
Slums and squatters
• Slums and squatter settlements are urban areas which are heavily populated, and the residents have poor quality housing and poor access to basic services
• Slum and squatter settlements have a few characteristics
– May have developed without permission
– Often neglected and do not receive adequate provision of basic services
– Residents often face threat of eviction
• People in housing shortage situations suffer from lack of safe shelter and insufficient basic services
Lack of safe shelter
• People who live in slums and squatter settlements face many problems
– Houses often built on unsuitable sites such as low-lying areas or steep slopes are prone to floods and landslides
– Houses built in a dense and disorderly manner are difficult to evacuate during emergencies
– They are not protected against natural elements
Insufficient basic services
• People in a housing shortage situation often lack access to basic services
– Electricity
– Clean water
– Proper sanitation and waste disposal
• This is often due to a lack of infrastructure
– Power lines
– Water pipes
– Toilets and waste management facilities
• Example: Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
– Residents illegally tap the city’s electricity supply to get access to electricity
• Example: Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya
– Inconsistent access to water
– Lack of proper sanitation and waste disposal
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