The most effective model for the transformation of informal settlements is not a project-based one, but a city-wide community-led approach, Somsook Boonyabancha, Chairperson to the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) of Thailand, said during her speech at the dialogue session titled “Transforming informal settlements and slums: housing for the world” held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.
According to her, nearly 50 years of experience show that poor communities can solve housing problems themselves and have sufficient motivation to create change.
Somsook Boonyabancha noted that five key conditions are important for this: a demand-based and community-oriented approach, a city plan covering all settlements, cooperation between governments, experts and communities, a people-friendly financial system, and viewing housing not only as a physical structure but also as a tool for community building.
She stressed that when people facing the problem become the main participants in the solution process, every problem simultaneously turns into an opportunity for a solution.
Note that ACHR (Asian Coalition for Housing Rights) is an international network operating in countries across the region to improve the housing conditions of low-income communities.
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