AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Some Policy experts and practitioners on housing believing that
housing standards increase housing cost and pose challenges to
housing affordability.
AMAUNI CAMPBELL - 1401062
JASON- RAE ROWE - 1306502
JAVAUN MURRAY - 1403991
, Table of Contents
Title Page
Introduction……………………………………………………………………….. 1
International Standards………………………………………………………. 1
Indicators of Habitability……………………………………………………….4
Housing Standards and Jamaica (linkage)……………………...........6
Review of standards &
Impact on Housing in Jamaica…………………………………………………9
Recommendations………………………………………………………………….14
References………………………………………………………………………………16
Page | 1
, Introduction
UN Habitat publication on the “Right to Adequate Housing” makes mention to
International human rights law which recognizes everyone’s right to an adequate standard of
living, including adequate housing. Despite the central place of this right within the global legal
system, well over a billion people are not adequately housed. Millions around the world live in
life- or health threatening conditions, in overcrowded slums and informal settlements, or in other
conditions which do not uphold their human rights and their dignity. Further millions are forcibly
evicted, or threatened with forced eviction, from their homes every year.
International Standards
Adequate housing was recognized as part of the right to an adequate standard of living in the
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the 1966 International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Other international human rights treaties have since
recognized or referred to the right to adequate housing or some elements of it, such as the
protection of one’s home and privacy.
Increased international attention has also been paid to the right to adequate housing, including by
human rights treaty bodies, regional human rights mechanisms and the Commission on Human
Rights (now replaced by the Human Rights Council), which created the mandate of “Special
Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living” in
2000. These initiatives have helped to clarify the scope and content of the right to adequate
housing.
Page | 2
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Some Policy experts and practitioners on housing believing that
housing standards increase housing cost and pose challenges to
housing affordability.
AMAUNI CAMPBELL - 1401062
JASON- RAE ROWE - 1306502
JAVAUN MURRAY - 1403991
, Table of Contents
Title Page
Introduction……………………………………………………………………….. 1
International Standards………………………………………………………. 1
Indicators of Habitability……………………………………………………….4
Housing Standards and Jamaica (linkage)……………………...........6
Review of standards &
Impact on Housing in Jamaica…………………………………………………9
Recommendations………………………………………………………………….14
References………………………………………………………………………………16
Page | 1
, Introduction
UN Habitat publication on the “Right to Adequate Housing” makes mention to
International human rights law which recognizes everyone’s right to an adequate standard of
living, including adequate housing. Despite the central place of this right within the global legal
system, well over a billion people are not adequately housed. Millions around the world live in
life- or health threatening conditions, in overcrowded slums and informal settlements, or in other
conditions which do not uphold their human rights and their dignity. Further millions are forcibly
evicted, or threatened with forced eviction, from their homes every year.
International Standards
Adequate housing was recognized as part of the right to an adequate standard of living in the
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the 1966 International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Other international human rights treaties have since
recognized or referred to the right to adequate housing or some elements of it, such as the
protection of one’s home and privacy.
Increased international attention has also been paid to the right to adequate housing, including by
human rights treaty bodies, regional human rights mechanisms and the Commission on Human
Rights (now replaced by the Human Rights Council), which created the mandate of “Special
Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living” in
2000. These initiatives have helped to clarify the scope and content of the right to adequate
housing.
Page | 2
