Misplaced philanthropism
Many socially motivated housing schemes fail to
assist the urban poor because of the high costs,
which result from inappropriate adherence to Western housing standards, often established in the colonial era, and the use of high-technology construction methods. Large subsidies are required to bring the housing within the financial reach of the
Poor, and few Third World governments are able or willing to provide these. As a consequence, most schernes are eventually occupied by those families able to pay a 'fair rent' on a regular basis, which