Urbanisation and Slums

Factors in Population Distribution Climate Resources Disease Water Accessibility Government Communication Soils Culture Development Vegetation Landscape

Kiberi, Nairobi, Kenya

Dhavari Slum, India

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Caracas, Venezuela

Sao Paolo, Brazil

5 Features of a Slum 1. Lack of durable housing 2. Insufficient living area 3. Lack of access to clean water 4. Inadequate sanitation 5. Insecure tenure

Where are the slums?

Slum Statistics 1/3 urban population lives in slums Africa – 70% of urban population, Majority between 15 and 24. 50% in South Asia, 40% in Africa do not have basic sanitation 1 toilet for every 500 people in Nairobi Kenya. One of the world’s biggest slums is in Kibera, Nairobi and has 2.5 million people.

Haven’t we been here before?

Not Really Developed world did experience urbanisation during industrial revolution London 1800 - 1910 - grew 7 fold Some cities in the developing world 1950 - 2000 grew 40 fold

A way out? 2000 – 2010 - 227 million lifted out of slums 74% of these in Asia, especially China and India Any solutions to bring people out of the slums?

Possible solutions Technology – improve sanitation Economic – job creation – urban and rural Encourage investment Emergence of middle class Housing – permanent structures with modern conveniences Education – women and children Healthcare – prevent disease Protection of soil – prevent desertification

The Downtown Eastside

The DTES – facts and figures http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/homeless-count-2016-report.pdf 1746 homeless people, 488 of those had no shelter space 70% had slept on street in previous year 45% had been homeless for more than a year 32% aboriginal (only 2.5% of population) 58% had substance addiction (Can average is 11% (CBC)) 42% had mental illness (20% of general population at some time in tehir lives (CMHA)

What to do about homelessness?

Victoria’s Tent City What was the Province asking for? What was the Judges’s decision? What were the key reasons for that decision? Why do the campers believe they should stay? How did the Government respond? How did the NDP respond? How far do you agree with the judges decision and why?

What’s happening now? April 2007 – Government announces $80 million scheme to buy up hotels and protect them as social housing Advocacy Groups say covers 20% of residents Many saw as response to coming 2010 olympics 2012 – Government agrees to refurbish SROs Advocacy Groups say that this is only maintaining current help, not adding to it.