N5 Geography Shanty towns

Problems with shanty town housing

• Favela housing is often constructed informally, using a mix of salvaged materials, corrugated metal, and other readily available resources. This informal construction can result in homes that lack structural stability, insulation, and proper sanitation facilities.

• Due to limited available land within favelas, houses are often built closely together, leading to overcrowding. This high population density can strain resources, increase the risk of disease transmission, and reduce residents' quality of life.

• Many favela homes lack access to basic infrastructure such as clean water, sewage systems, and proper sanitation. This can lead to health hazards, as well as issues related to waste disposal and waterborne diseases.

• Favela settlements are often unplanned, resulting in narrow, winding alleys that are inaccessible to essential services such as refuse collection trucks and emergency vehicles. This lack of proper infrastructure can delay responses to emergencies and hinder waste management.

• Many favela homes are perched on steep hillside terrain, making them susceptible to landslides and instability. This poses significant safety risks to residents, especially during heavy rains.

• Drug cartels and organised crime groups often operate within the favelas, leading to issues of insecurity and violence.

• In the absence of formal utility services, many favela residents resort to illegal electricity connections, a practice known as "tapping." This not only poses a safety hazard but also leads to electrical fires, risking lives and property.

• Some view the favelas as eyesores, which can affect tourism and the city's overall image.

• Residents of favelas often face challenges in accessing quality education, healthcare, and other essential services.

• Many favela residents do not have formal property ownership rights, leaving them vulnerable to forced evictions and lacking collateral for loans.

The six problems I’m using

• Drug cartels and organised crime groups often operate within the favelas, leading to issues of insecurity and violence.

• Many favela residents do not have formal property ownership rights, leaving them vulnerable to forced evictions and lacking collateral for loans.

• Residents of favelas often face challenges in accessing quality education, healthcare, and other essential services.

• Many favela homes are perched on steep hillside terrain, making them susceptible to landslides and instability. This poses significant safety risks to residents, especially during heavy rains.

• Due to limited available land within favelas, houses are often built closely together, leading to overcrowding. This high population density can strain resources, increase the risk of disease transmission, and reduce residents' quality of life.

• Many favela homes lack access to basic infrastructure such as clean water, sewage systems, and proper sanitation. This can lead to health hazards, as well as issues related to waste disposal and waterborne diseases.

Solutions to shanty housing

• The installation of cable car systems has revolutionised transportation within favelas. These cable cars connect different favela communities to the central business district (CBD) and other parts of the city. This makes it easier for residents to commute, allowing them to access work, education, and healthcare.

• Housing improvement programs have focused on plastering homes, making them more durable and water-resistant.

• Self-help schemes include actions to support people to improve their living areas. Governments have provided materials such as bricks, cement and glass to enable people living in favelas to improve their homes.

• Charities help by providing money for education and health care. Schooling improves the literacy rates of children, so they have a better chance of getting a job, and education gives them better life choices.

• Drug related crime was an issue so security has been improved by having more police patrols.

• As many shanty towns are illegal, the residents have been given legal rights to the land where their house is built.

• Housing was low quality so wooden shacks have been upgraded to permanent dwellings, with some services. For example, clean piped water has been provided to help reduce the spread of diseases

6 Solutions for shanty housing

• The installation of cable car systems has revolutionised transportation within favelas. These cable cars connect different favela communities to the central business district (CBD) and other parts of the city. This makes it easier for residents to commute, allowing them to access work, education, and healthcare.

• informal/poor quality housing prompted self-help schemes, where local people are provided with loans to buy materials like bricks to upgrade their homes

• Charities help by providing money for education and health care. Schooling improves the literacy rates of children, so they have a better chance of getting a job, and education gives them better life choices.

• Drug related crime was an issue so security has been improved by having more police patrols.

• As many shanty towns are illegal, the residents have been given legal rights to the land where their house is built.

• Housing was low quality so wooden shacks have been upgraded to permanent dwellings, with some services. For example, clean piped water has been provided to help reduce the spread of diseases