"Low-Income Housing Backlogs and Deficits “Blues” in South Africa. What Solutions Can a Lean Construction Approach Proffer? "

Abstract

The Oxford dictionary defines the word "blues" as meaning "a feeling of depression or deep unhappiness, gloominess, despondency, dejection and despair". The concept of low-income housing (LIH) and the notion of housing backlogs and deficits "blues" in South Africa is linked to a sub-optimal performing LIH sector in which slow turnaround times, slow service LIH delivery stock turnover and continued failure to reverse significantly LIH waiting list requirements persists across municipalities throughout the country. Coupled with the challenge and threat presented by climate change (CC) induced vulnerabilities for LIH with questions marks hanging with respect to the capacity and capabilities of both state and non-state actors to provide a sustainable CC resilient and insulated LIH sector in the country, so much that perceived feelings of gloom, despondency, dejection and despair start finding expression in respect to the ability of the housing sector to guarantee settlement resilience in this new climatic and socioeconomic environment. In this regard, exploring how existing initiatives such as alternative building Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning J o u r n a l h o m e p a g e: http://jssp.reviste.ubbcluj.ro This paper seeks to answer the following main question: "Does housing backlogs and deficits rhetoric constrain policy makers, decisionmakers, practitioners and experts from engaging in the implementation of transformative low-income housing projects and programmes in South Africa?". The aim and purpose of this paper are: (1) to contribute to the understanding of the concept of lowincome housing backlogs and deficits "blues" in South Africa. This is achieved through suggesting how innovative lean housing construction and development approach/models can play a "catalytic" role in the quest to redress low-income housing provision and delivery requirements; and (2) to argue that applied research and development of housing innovations in practice is critical in transforming the low-income housing sustainability agenda in South Africa and by extension in developing countries. The analysis is based on a critical literature review of housing approaches of low-income housing delivery, affordable strategies, policy implementation realities and discourses, low-income housing technology options, in addition to industry experience and own observation. This paper establishes the significance of considering up scaling the implementation of lean advanced construction techniques, use of low-cost building materials and fast-construction building techniques in responding to the growing demand for low-income housing provision and services in South Africa. The need to continuously monitor, evaluate and review the housing policy and regulatory setup relevancy in addressing low-income housing deficits and backlogs with the aid of a lean construction as necessary to improve low-income housing delivery deployment in South Africa.

Systematic literature review of the role of e-commerce in providing pathways to sustainability for poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…While acknowledging innovations in the treatment segment with economically viable products such as animal fertilizer and biogas, the provision of well-maintained non-sewered sanitation services is undeveloped and requires innovation to complete a viable value chain [55]. There are backlogs and delays in providing affordable low-income housing in South Africa [56]. Innovative lean construction techniques can eliminate time wastage and improve profits compared with conventional construction [56].…”

“…There are backlogs and delays in providing affordable low-income housing in South Africa [56]. Innovative lean construction techniques can eliminate time wastage and improve profits compared with conventional construction [56]. A lean construction framework incorporating innovative financing, construction, subsidies, and institutional arrangements to address the chronic shortage of housing in South Africa is proposed [56].…”

“…Innovative lean construction techniques can eliminate time wastage and improve profits compared with conventional construction [56]. A lean construction framework incorporating innovative financing, construction, subsidies, and institutional arrangements to address the chronic shortage of housing in South Africa is proposed [56]. This framework can lead to the development of a housing sector with skills and technological development [56].…”

“…A lean construction framework incorporating innovative financing, construction, subsidies, and institutional arrangements to address the chronic shortage of housing in South Africa is proposed [56]. This framework can lead to the development of a housing sector with skills and technological development [56]. Michael-Onuoha et al [44] believes that libraries in Nigeria can contribute to sustainable development and poverty alleviation.…”

Application of Copulas to Improve the Modeling of Housing Tenure and Affordability

“…Prominent among these 16 is the Individual Subsidy Programme (ISP), which provides access to funding of individual house ownership in the form of either a credit-linked (finance linked) or non-credit linked subsidies [24]. The demand for owner-occupied housing (both government-sponsored and privately sponsored) has historically outstripped the housing supply in South Africa, resulting in an ever-increasing housing backlog, especially since 2010 [33]. It has been exacerbated by the effects of the global COVID pandemic and its associated lockdown phases that have negatively impacted the South African economy.…”