Shantytowns

Shantytowns, also known as slums or informal settlements, are urban residential areas characterized by substandard housing, often built from salvaged materials, and lacking basic services like clean water, sanitation, and electricity. They typically arise in areas where rapid urbanization outpaces the availability of formal housing and infrastructure, leading to spontaneous settlement by low-income populations. These settlements are often found on the peripheries of cities or on marginal land unsuitable for conventional development.

The development of shantytowns is frequently driven by economic factors, including poverty, unemployment, and the migration of people from rural to urban areas in search of better opportunities. Without access to affordable housing, individuals and families construct dwellings on available land, which may be privately owned, publicly owned, or contested. The lack of secure tenure often leaves residents vulnerable to eviction.

While shantytowns present significant challenges related to public health, crime, and social inequality, they also represent a form of grassroots urbanism and a vital source of affordable housing for many. Efforts to improve shantytown conditions often involve upgrading infrastructure, providing access to basic services, and regularizing land tenure. These interventions aim to integrate these communities into the formal urban fabric and improve the living standards of their inhabitants.