A Unitec researcher says to ease the housing crisis Auckland should take inspiration from slums.
Pedro Weber says people living in slums are often able to make their own improvements or extensions to their homes, and have more opportunities for social and economic mobility.
But low-income residents in Auckland are often limited in their ability to move beyond their situation, struggling with high levels of debt.
In his masters thesis Mr Weber proposes that housing should be low-cost and as simple as possible while maintaining quality, and people should be free to expand as they see fit.
"I'm not advocating for slums. I'm just recognising that some aspects in slum culture helps people get better housing," he told Stuff.
People living in slums overseas have more freedom and economic flexibility, he proposes in the thesis, helping them to establish middle-class households over time.
He proposes that small houses should be built that immediately cater to people's basic needs, and should be built in areas that are central and close to transport links to support social mobility.
Over time, residents could expand their dwellings as necessary, giving them the power to modify their own shelter.
The idea is known as 'incremental housing', a balance between the Government's responsibility to provide housing and giving residents their own autonomy and involvement with their housing.
"While the government's responsibility to provide housing for its most vulnerable citizens is well established in a neoliberal state, the concepts of autonomy and self-determination are generally overlooked," Mr Weber said in his thesis.
"Historically, state housing tenants have been caught in a vicious cycle of poverty; their lack of social mobility demonstrates that housing is not enough. Creating social mobility requires a high degree of economic and social support, including upskilling programmes, education, additional income sources, financial planning, community building, shared social spaces, communal activities, and access to opportunity."
He said that housing plans needed to consider housing pathways for its residents, and community empowerment.
"Housing should be judged primarily on the basis of what it does for people, rather than adhering to the notion that housing is a commodity like any other."
Newshub.
