PUBLIC HOUSING

PUBLIC HOUSING

Public housing refers to a form of housing provision, which emphasizes the role of the State (government and its agencies) in helping to provide housing, particularly for poor, low-income and more vulnerable groups in the society (Towry-Coker, L., 2009). It has taken varied forms in different geographical contexts and other descriptive terms are sometimes used in its place – such as social housing, state-housing, state-sponsored housing, welfare housing, non-profit housing, low-cost housing, affordable housing, and mass housing.

Two broad approaches to public housing have been identified: Government-provided housing and Government-sponsored housing (Power, 1993). Public housing programmes have been criticized for failing to provide quality, affordable and adequate housing units to target population in most developing countries (Mukhija, 2004). Yet studies have indicated that governments in developing countries are not relenting in their efforts at addressing the problem of providing adequate, affordable and sustainable housing.

Public housing programmes have been criticised for failing to provide quality, affordable and adequate housing units to target population in most developing countries (Mukhija, 2004);

This is probably in recognition of government’s social responsibility in providing housing for its citizens and the fact that adequate housing provision is a key component of sustainable development. However, in more recent time, it is observed that the outcome of government efforts in addressing the housing challenge in many developing countries such as Nigeria is not well understood. According to the 1991 Nigerian National Housing Policy (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1991), lack of adequate monitoring and evaluation of housing policy implementation have contributed to failure of public housing programmes in this country. This assertion was corroborated by Obashoro (2002) who noted that proper programme evaluation was rarely done in Nigeria, and as a result, it is very difficult to assess the real outcome of programmes in this country.

ADVANTAGES

Public housing is one of the most affordable accommodations available to the impoverished, senior citizens and the disabled. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, “There are approximately 1.2 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 [housing agencies].” In a public housing development, the property is owned and managed by local or state government authorities, who also set regulations that govern the complex’s tenants.

The following are possible advantages of public housing in Nigeria:

1. Rental Prices: It offers adequate, economical accommodation for senior citizens, low-wage workers and people with disabilities.

To make units affordable, estimated rents for public housing are always below the regular market rent in that particular area, helping to increase the total disposable income of the residents. This, in turn, allows residents to pump cash into the local economy.

Disadvantages:

However, the lower rents can also impact the surrounding community negatively, as communal resources are stretched to more people, leaving fewer dollars per person. David Stanowski writes in the Aug. 19, 2010, edition of the “Galveston County Daily News” that “[City governments] see it as a liability because the resources needed to support public housing far exceed the taxes that public housing residents pay to the city plus federal subsidies.”

2. Safety and Property Maintenance: The residents enjoy certain benefits like child protection, government-regulated cleaning and property maintenance. There are also safety measures like 24-hour security, video suveillance, and visitor screening. Still, these measures don’t mitigate the high crime rates of public housing.

Disadvantages:

A Justice Policy Institute report on Housing and Public Safety states that there is “strong evidence of an association between low-quality housing and a number of social consequences, including decreased educational performance and negatively influenced health conditions.” Violence and a lack of privacy due to crowded conditions is also a concern.

3. Land and Resource Utilization: Public housing makes economically sound use of land and urban resources. In a study published in 2008 and sponsored by the Housing Authority Insurance Group, the Council of Large Public Housing and the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, it was found that “it would take approximately $162 billion to replace the existing 1.2 million units of public housing” of their 10 focus group cities.

 

Disadvantage: Even though the community may profit from the new real estate and increased jobs, there’s still the possibility that residents could be ex-convicts or other undesirable sorts, the study noted.

 

REFERENCES

Ali, I. (1996) The National Housing Programme-The Way Forward. Housing Today- The Journal of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria 11 (2), 16-19

Mukhija, V. (2004): The Contradictions in Enabling Private Developer of Affordable Housing: a Cautionary Case from India. Urban Studies. 4(11), 2231-2244.

Towry-Coker, L. (2009) “Housing policy and dynamics of housing delivery in Nigeria”: A case study of Lagos. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Lagos State University Ojo, Lagos.

Pros & Cons of Public Housing retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pros-cons-public-housing-8497.html