One of the most urgent problem in the world to day is shelter, in other words, homes for people to live in. In many cities, especially in the Third World, tens of thousands of people live in shacks which they have built themselves out of pieces of wood and iron, old boxes and oil drums. Many cities are surrounded by unplanned settlements, sometimes called shanty towns, where the poorest people live. In these areas sewerage and safe water supplies are inadequate and, as a result, the inhabitants are likely to catch illnesses and diseases.
In recent years, governments and international organizations have been discussing solutions to this problem. Several important questions have been asked. Can the poor shelters of unplanned settlements be changed into safe, comfortable homes ? Can city authority plan areas for settlement with water supplies and sewerage systems where people could build their own homes ? The homes might still be very poor but the area would be healthier. Should authorities try to build inexpensive public housing ? Or perhaps the best solution is a political one. Governments should make sure that economic development is distributed evenly throughout a country so that there are not such large populations in a few cities.