How are shanty towns developed?
One of the primary causes of the creation and increase of shantytowns is rapid growth and urbanization where many leave rural areas to search for greater opportunities in urban areas and are stricken with poverty through a lack of opportunities.
Why are shanty towns built?
As the Depression worsened and millions of urban and rural families lost their jobs and depleted their savings, they also lost their homes. Desperate for shelter, homeless citizens built shantytowns in and around cities across the nation.
How would you describe a shanty town?
A shanty town (also called a slum or squatter settlement) is a settlement (sometimes illegal or unauthorized) of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal, and sheets of plastic.
What are houses in shanty towns made of?
Shanty towns are also known as squatter settlements. These improvised housing developments are often made up of corrugated metal, plywood, cardboard boxes and sheets of plastics, with these impromptu homes often called shacks.
What are the main issues of shanty towns?
Problems in shanty towns
Fires – fires can spread quickly. Overpopulation – the area does not have enough resources to support the growing population. Competition for jobs – jobs are in short supply. Disease – poor sanitation and limited health care can lead to the spread of disease.
Are shanty towns illegal?
UN-Habitat (2016) defines shanty town as an illegal or unauthorized settlement characterized by substandard housing made up of plastic sheets, corrugated metal or cardboard boxes, owned by impoverished people without tenure security.
What are the problems in shanty towns?
Overcrowding – the settlement has a high population density. Fires – fires can spread quickly. Overpopulation – the area does not have enough resources to support the growing population. Competition for jobs – jobs are in short supply.
What is the difference between a shantytown and a slum?
Shanty town vs Slum
So a slum is poorly maintained housing stock that would have originally been built “to code”. It would generally still have municipal services like water, electricity, and telephones. A shanty town is a collection of makeshift housing thrown together with no recognizable organization.
How can shanty towns be improved?
People build their own homes using money from a low-interest loan. These give people the tools and training to improve their homes. Low-interest loans may be used to help people fund these changes. People may be given legal ownership of the land.
What is the difference between a shanty town and a slum?
What are the living conditions like in a shanty town?
These shanty towns, common to many cities of the developing world, are characterized by low-quality housing and lack of physical infrastructure. With little access to clean drinking water and sanitation, the inhabitants face a constant threat of disease. In a typical slum, houses are built of mud and plastic sheets.