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

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  • Amin Kamete

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.

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  • Amin Kamete, 2001. "The quest for affordable urban housing: A study of approaches and results in Harare, Zimbabwe," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 31-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:18:y:2001:i:1:p:31-44
    DOI: 10.1080/03768350120045303
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