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Commentary
Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis
Reza Farkhondehpay*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
58-70
Received:
13 June 2024
Accepted:
2 July 2024
Published:
15 July 2024
Abstract: The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that involves the collaborative efforts of governments, architects, and builders. The article examines the multifaceted nature of the affordable housing crisis, highlighting its impact on various socioeconomic groups and the challenges faced in finding solutions. It emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering economic stability, promoting health and well-being, bolstering educational outcomes, and nurturing social cohesion and community development. The government's role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is discussed, focusing on the burden of government fees and taxes, zoning and regulatory compliance, and proposals to mitigate their impact. The article advocates for reforming fees, implementing policy alterations, and adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing development. The architects' role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is explored, highlighting the potential of architectural design competitions in promoting innovation, community engagement, and recognizing excellence in affordable housing design. The article emphasizes the importance of architectural innovation and creativity in envisioning and designing sustainable, community-centric housing solutions that cater to residents' psychological and social needs. The role of builders and developers in addressing the housing affordability crisis is also examined, with a focus on integrating sustainability for cost reduction, adopting new construction methods and materials, forming public-private partnerships for sustainable housing projects, and investing in education and training for sustainable practices. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a collective commitment to action, demanding bold leadership, creative thinking, and unwavering determination to build a future where every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the direct and indirect factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and sustainable housing market that benefits current and future homeowners while bolstering the overall economic and social well-being of the nation.
Abstract: The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that a...
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Research Article
Patronage Pattern and Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Urban Slums and Informal Settlements in Ibadan Metropolis
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
71-87
Received:
28 March 2024
Accepted:
11 April 2024
Published:
29 July 2024
Abstract: Slums and informal settlements are residential areas physically and socially disintegrated. In spite of this, inadequate health-related data on slum areas and informal settlements has led to inappropriate and unrealistic allocation of healthcare resources by the public and private health providers. This study investigates the patronage pattern and accessibility of healthcare facilities to residents of urban slums and Informal settlements in Ibadan Metropolis, a rapidly growing urban area in Nigeria facing challenges related to urbanization and healthcare infrastructure. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Structured questionnaire was administered on 1,389 residents of the slummy neighbourhoods and informal settlements in Ibadan metropolis, and obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that out of 109 neighbourhoods, 42.1% were categorized as slummy neighbourhoods, 36.7% as slums/informal settlements, while 21.2% were informal settlement using slummy and informality conditions respectively. Results revealed that distance to health facility (β= -0.353, p<0.05), educational qualification (β=-0.063, p<0.05) and household size (β= -0.052, p<0.05) had an inverse relationship with patronage of health facilities, while age (β=0.086, p< 0.05) had a positive relationship. It was also revealed that access to PHC and dispensary/clinic in slummy neighbouhoods and slum/informal settlements is higher compared to informal settlements in the study area. The study therefore recommends implementation of slum improvement program for the slummy and slums/informal neighbourhoods, provision of additional healthcare facilities to be located especially in the slummy neighbourhoods and informal settlements to ensure equitable distribution.
Abstract: Slums and informal settlements are residential areas physically and socially disintegrated. In spite of this, inadequate health-related data on slum areas and informal settlements has led to inappropriate and unrealistic allocation of healthcare resources by the public and private health providers. This study investigates the patronage pattern and ...
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Research Article
Effect of Covers Terraces on Humidity Inside Buildings: Case Study in the City of Rabat
Naoual Raouj*,
Moulay Cherif Harrouni,
Lahoussaine Baamal,
Nourredine Benaoda Tlemçani
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
88-95
Received:
19 April 2024
Accepted:
3 May 2024
Published:
29 July 2024
Abstract: Covers terraces are becoming increasingly widespread, given their advantages in terms of regulating the building's climate and the speed at which rainwater runs off. The first article in this research consisted in selecting plantations capable of withstanding the conditions of terraces, while the second article dealt with the effect of terrace coverings on the temperature inside buildings. Although sedums are the most widely used plant species for covering building terraces and have shown the best resilience and adaptability for green roofs, additional ecosystem services can be provided by native plants, suggesting future research to optimize plant composition and cover for sustainable green roofs. This research compares the effect of terrace coverings of different thicknesses on humidity inside buildings. This research compares the effect of terrace covers with different thicknesses (5 cm and 10 cm), on humidity inside buildings during the four seasons. The results show that the 10 cm thick terrace cover has a humidity-increases effect during the warm period (+ 3,01%). The 5 cm thick terrace cover has a humidity-reducing effect during the cold period (-0,2%). Also, the maximum relative humidity of the 10 cm thick cover decreased by 9.48%, and the maximum relative humidity of the 5 cm thick cover decreased by 13.25%.
Abstract: Covers terraces are becoming increasingly widespread, given their advantages in terms of regulating the building's climate and the speed at which rainwater runs off. The first article in this research consisted in selecting plantations capable of withstanding the conditions of terraces, while the second article dealt with the effect of terrace cove...
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Research Article
Equity in Public Facilities Provision in an Urban Area: A Spatial Analysis of Rajshahi City Corporation
Arnob Chakrabarty,
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
96-111
Received:
14 May 2024
Accepted:
1 August 2024
Published:
6 September 2024
Abstract: In the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC)area, spatial sizeis not proportionate to the placement of public facilities due to rapid urbanization and population growth. This raises the question ofwhat is the level of equity present inthe provision of public facilities in the city corporation area. For this research, primary schools, high schools, colleges, health facilities, and markets were selected from the available types of public facilities.Location Quotient (LQ) method and Gini Coefficientwere used to analyze locational concentration and spatial disparity in the provision of public facilities in 30 wards of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC). Service area analysiswas done to show how much of the city corporation area falls under afavorable distance from the public facilities.The number of the wards having LQ value > 1 range from 9 – 15 based on different public facilities; showing locational concentration is present for all public facilities. The Gini coefficient (GC) values range from 0.41 to 0.67, showing a high level of spatial inequity. The service area analysis also shows the service area of the public facilities fail to cover all of the wards.In the future, inequity in provision of public facilities can compound with the increase in population and urban sprawl if not met with regulatory and inclusive planning policies.
Abstract: In the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC)area, spatial sizeis not proportionate to the placement of public facilities due to rapid urbanization and population growth. This raises the question ofwhat is the level of equity present inthe provision of public facilities in the city corporation area. For this research, primary schools, high schools, colleg...
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Research Article
Urban Housing Practices of Policy Implementation in Bamenda, Cameroon
Nformi Beatrice Maluh*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
112-121
Received:
15 July 2024
Accepted:
7 August 2024
Published:
20 September 2024
Abstract: Housing is a fundamental human need, but making sure that every person has access togood quality housing is a worldwide challenge. Public policy impact on the quest for housing adequacy and affordability is visible in Bamenda as Cameroon’s fourth city. This paper investigates the effectiveness of institutional policy and structures put in place to determine the on-going processes of housing management in Bamenda. To explore this nexus, explanatory design was used involving direct interviews of policy officials who operate within the cross sectorial housing institutions in Bamenda. The practice perceptions were captured through a 372 questionnaires survey on households in addition to field observations. Results portray that varied regulatory instruments have been enacted to mitigate housing and urban challenges as the 2004 Town Planning Law and its subsequent decrees signed in 2008, the 1974 Land Ordinance and the 1976 Decree to lay down conditions for obtaining land certificates, the 1996 Environmental Management Law, 1998 Water Code, 2004 Laws of Decentralisation and Deconcentration. Results also show that despite the number of housing institutions and policies put in place, housing practices in Bamenda continue to resist regulatory texts, land certificates and building permits fostering the illegal occupation of flood plains and risky slopes. This paper opts for an effective policy environment that enforces housing laws and regulations, while allowing sufficient flexibility to align to local conditionswithin Bamenda.
Abstract: Housing is a fundamental human need, but making sure that every person has access togood quality housing is a worldwide challenge. Public policy impact on the quest for housing adequacy and affordability is visible in Bamenda as Cameroon’s fourth city. This paper investigates the effectiveness of institutional policy and structures put in place to ...
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