The quest for affordable urban housing: A study of approaches and results in Harare, Zimbabwe

Amin Kamete

Development Southern Africa, 2001, vol. 18, issue 1, 31-44

Abstract: Approaches aimed at achieving housing affordability have long emphasised the housing unit. Conventional wisdom prescribes that affordability will be enhanced if the unit cost of a house is reduced. Classic solutions include the reduction of standards, use of indigenous technologies and materials, adopting self-help modes of delivery and addressing market imperfections. This study shows that while it is not unwise to reduce the cost of housing, there is a limit to this approach. Unit costs cannot be reduced indefinitely and non-cost-reducing strategies are therefore called for. The approaches hinge on improving the economic status of low-income groups by implementing measures that reduce household expenditure and/or boost their incomes.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1080/03768350120045303

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