Presenters

Intentional Communities for the Poor
'Urban Initiatives' is a response by Habitat to the specific housing
challenges faced by cities experiencing rapid rates of urbanization
exacerbated by wars, famine and genocide. The greatest need for
housing today exists within the burgeoning slums. An estimated 600
million people currently live in life and health threatening homes
and neighborhoods. Urban populations are forecast to grow from 2
billion now to about 4 billion by 2025.
Urbanization CHALLENGES
Urban governments in developing nations are largely overwhelmed by
the urbanization crisis. They lack the finances, the technical and
management capacity to provide the engineering and social
infrastructure necessary for sustainable urban living environments.
Consequently the poor are left to accommodate themselves in unplanned
settlements facing severe constraints to their well-being
The poor do not choose to live in slums, most simply have no
alternative. They do not choose their neighbors, their neighborhood
nor the survivalist culture that pervades their existence.
The Intentional Community is a model developed by the Urban
Initiatives Department of Habitat which combines the mutual-help
construction methodology with an intentional community formation
process.
Slum dwellers are provided an opportunity to move out of the slum and
establish a new community - a secure and stable environment amongst
persons who share common values, aspirations and identity. The
collaborative construction process serves to facilitate not only the
physical construction of houses but the formation relationships and
values necessary for a new community
THE DURBAN PILOT PROJECT
The Intentional community model was successfully implemented at
Ethembeni, Durban South Africa during 2001 and 2002 and serves to
validate both the methodology and product. The main characteristics
of the process are listed below:
REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION
Invitation to participate was made through public notices through
printed and radio media. Applicants were required to meet the
following conditions:
ß Have demonstrable need
ß Have the ability to repay an amount of $25p.m.
ß Have no outstanding debts
ß Commit to building collaboratively (Min 500 hours sweat equity)
ß Demonstrate a savings record of at least 6 months
ß Participate in an envisioning and values formation process
ß Undergo ownership orientation and training
COMMUNITY FORMATION
Facilitated by Habitat, interested persons were gathered to
conceptualize and envision a community - physically, culturally and
spiritually. This vision was translated into a design brief and
community covenant (code of conduct) which all prospective community
members approved before planning commenced.