So I’ve been here for almost four months now (!!!), I spend the bulk of my time thinking, reading, writing, and talking about housing issues in La Paz, and I haven’t really told you anything about them. The first couple of months of my internship were devoted to research to support my boss’s report on women and housing in Latin America to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. It was a good introduction to the issues I guess, but it was a huge amount of not very efficiently assigned work and I didn’t enjoy it that much. Now most of my time is spent on my second major project, a diagnostic of the situation of women and housing in the municipality of La Paz, and I love it. It involves reviewing statistics, primary and secondary sources, as well as running focus groups with women in each of the macrodistricts of the city; the past few weeks have been extremely busy with the focus groups but it has been great, and I’m actually starting to feel like I know what I’m talking about!

So here’s the deal with housing in La Paz… Sorry if some of the language is a bit awkward by the way, I normally write about this stuff in Spanish so I’m not very familiar with some of the English terms or phrases.

One problem is land: there isn’t enough. La Paz is a valley, so the boundaries of the city are limited. People can go live in El Alto, but the climate is colder and there are fewer economic/job opportunities; in general the access to basic services is worse as well. El Alto is now more populous than La Paz, but many La Paz dwellers do not like the idea of moving to El Alto. Thus, La Paz has become extremely densely populated, and people live on unsafe land.

Houses houses everywhere…

It is estimated that about 70 percent of the land in the city is not fit for construction. (No, not a typo.) Some of that land could be made safe for construction with various technical interventions that I don’t understand, and some of it cannot. However, in very few cases have those interventions happened, and people live pretty much everywhere. Also, between 80 and 85 percent of the housing solutions constructed each year in La Paz are self-constructed (is that a word?) by the population. They often do not benefit from any technical assistance, and are totally unaware of building norms.

I’m no architect, but this does not seem ideal

Illegally built, obviously

This means that the risks of landslides and other natural disasters are huge; these tend to happen during the rainy season. The risks are already high because of the nature of the land, but are made worse by dense population, inadequate sanitation connections that basically dump dirty water down hills (eroding the very land that the houses are built on), and constructions that violate building norms (like five-story houses where only two stories are permitted). I have been told that approximately 400 dwellings are destroyed by landslides and other disasters in La Paz each year. Last February there was a “mega-landslide” that destroyed over 1500 houses.

The white tubes are the sewage system (click on the picture to see a bigger version)

Many-storied buildings

All of this used to be houses more or less like the above picture (site of mega-landslide, mostly cleaned up by now)

People still live in the next house over

Why do people build their houses on this land? Partially because they aren’t properly informed of the risks, partially because that is what they can afford, and partially because there isn’t much else available. The fact that so much housing in La Paz is self-constructed is a testament to the resourcefulness of the population, but more support is needed from the city to make sure that families are living in adequate conditions.

Insufficient access to basic public services is another problem. Many homes do not have access to potable water or sanitation facilities. (Access to electricity tends to be a bit better.) This leads to solutions like the makeshift sewage systems pictured above, and the laundry facilities pictured below, in one of La Paz’s over 300 rivers (the term river is used pretty loosely…). I could go on and on about the ways in which the lack of services disproportionately affects women, but suffice it to say that women remain almost entirely responsible for household chores in most cases, whether or not they work outside the home as well, and most cannot afford help. (We had permission to visit and take pictures at the site below.)

Laundry

Roads are also a problem; this is a total disaster during the rainy season

Clearly unsafe, especially at night with no light

Speaking of work, women are often economically dependent on their husbands, who prefer that they stay home to take care of the house and the family; when they do work, they receive lower salaries and are more likely to be in the informal economy. There is open discrimination against women in the formal workplace; employers are reluctant to hire women because of their childrearing responsibilities, and once a woman is past the age of 30, it is even harder to get hired because employers essentially advertise for cute young chicks. The lack of stable employment and documentation like pay slips means that it is literally impossible for women to get any kind of financing to pay for a house (or anything else).

There are so many other things that I could write about, like the lack of legal property titles (especially among women), overcrowding, insufficient public transport, crime and insecurity, the challenges of renting instead of owning, the individual stories of the women I’ve talked to… but I think I’ll have to leave it at this for now!

By: Kristen McNeill, Rooftops Canada past intern, Bolivia

Kelly Trottier was leaving the day after I arrived, but I managed to attend the departure lunch arranged for her by Madulammoho Housing Association (MHA). Kelly helped sharpen up MHA’s communications with its over 2000 social housing tenant households. I could tell from the hugs and fond farewells just how much Kelly was appreciated.

Karlye Wong in Johannesburg, South Africa

Karlye Wong is also working with MHA building up their long term building maintenance program. Karlye has played rugby for Canada’s national women’s team, and her skills and experience resulted in her captaining the Gauteng Province women’s rugby 7s team in a national tournament. She has also been able to secure support from the local professional men’s rugby team for programs with kids and youth in the troubled inner city Hillbrow area where MHA is based.

Kate Greavette was just heading off to see a bit of Africa before returning to Canada when we met up at a Joburg coffee shop. She has completed a terrific internship with the City of Cape Town’s Urban Agriculture Unit. While there she helped with Rooftops Canada’s the three city urban food security exchange – Nairobi, Cape Town and Toronto. Her last project was to prepare and test a community gardening guide.

We have been very fortunate to have such great young people on our team, and they have wonderful experiences – at work, making new friends and building their careers and networks. The new batch of 2012 interns we are now recruiting have so much to look forward to.  

By: Barry Pinsky, Rooftops Canada Executive Director

Patricia Sibley, with members of ZINAHCO Board and staff at Kumboyedza housing co-op -Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is awesome! People have been very welcoming. I have been working hard and trying to fit in some fun on the side. I am assisting the Zimbabwe National Association of Housing Cooperatives (ZINAHCO), Rooftops Canada’s partner in Zimbabwe, with the installation of a new accounting system. I am also helping to build the staff’s capacity to integrate new bookkeeping procedures into their day-to-day activities.

There are only four more days and so much work to do; it’s a bit overwhelming. George, the ZINACHO staff person I am working with, has been very open to how QuickBooks will perform for ZINACHO.  (George’s wife had a baby Friday night – congratulations!) There was no internet at the office till late Friday afternoon and hopefully there will be a server tomorrow because I haven’t loaded up the software yet! 

Ariel Ticharwa, E.D. ZINAHCO, Jamie Ritchie and Patricia Sibley in Zimbabwe

I am hoping to go live tomorrow.  The process has been an adventure, incorporating ideas from both George and Jamie (another technical advisor from Rooftops Canada) and finding new ways to meet everyone’s needs. I am pleased with how the project is going.  I am so glad I had the prep time at home so there was a base on which to develop the product ZINAHCO will be using.  George will be able to tweak the system in the future, and we’re setting up a process of communication for after I’m gone.

Patricia with Mtambwi of ZINAHCO

By Patricia Sibley, Rooftops Canada Technical Advisor

Mme Mbia shows off her plantain

At 52, Mme. Mbia is a widowed, self-made entrepreneur who is also president of TROPIFCO. The Case Sociale is a “social space” attached to her house, where people from her community meet to discuss women’s daily struggles and their access to housing and land rights. This month they met twice to discuss why women are more vulnerable to HIV and the social and economic difficulties women face in finding out their HIV status.           

 Mme. Mbia started her plantain chips business in 2000 with three of her women friends, armed with a start-up of only $20. The women do everything:  buying, processing, packaging and distributing the plantain chips. The business supports Mme. Mbia and her children. When her husband died, Mme. Mbia’s in-laws tried to take the property away from her. The only reason she was able to keep her home and business was because she had long ago recognized the importance of getting a land title in her name. “I was deeply moved by the suffering of women in the matter of land and housing rights. This is what motivated me to get a land title.”

Unlike Mme. Mbia, many Cameroonian women are still pushed to the economic and social margins of society. This is because women’s land rights – though part of Cameroonian law – are not necessarily known or practiced. Most women inCameroondo informal, home-based work, so access to secure and decent housing is critical for ensuring economic and social stability for themselves and their children.

The experience with her in-laws empowered Mme. Mbia to join the fight against the injustices done to women – especially widows – in her community. She is now a vocal activist for women’s land and housing rights, not only at community level but within CONGEH itself. At CONGEH, she meets like-minded activists with whom she can develop strategies to empower women in their communities to fight for their rights.

By Hadia Akhtar Khan, Rooftops Canada past intern, Cameroon

Madame Mbia showing off her plantain

Sunnar Zubair, third from left with BESG members

Over time I have had the opportunity to take part in various events that have involved interacting with multiple Municipal Officials from different municipalities within the uMgungundlovu District and meeting Community Based Organisation (CBO). 

Rooftops Canada’s partner, Built Environment Support Group’s (BESG) recent Deepening Democracy Project (DDP) hosted a series of events on Participatory Budgeting within South Africa. Throughout the week, there were presentations with Municipal Officials, Ward Councillors and CBOs. The large turnout was not only a reflection of how each group has a strong role to play in this process, but also represented the fiery passion the people of uMgungundlovu District have for the creation of a strong sense of community and government structure.

Members of the community based organization at the budget planning meeting

Although an unexpected experience, it truly opened my eyes to the potential abilities of the people working together and how giving power back to the people to direct where their funding is due can allow them to prioritize what they need, not just what is felt is necessary, from housing to basic services. Participatory Budgeting’s element of empowering people is something to be highly commended. In the aftermath of the events, our CBO clusters have begun the shift towards this movement. I feel extremely blessed to have been part of the beginning of this process. I look forward to the months to come and where this may lead!

By Sunna Zubair, Planning Intern, South Africa

Kuyasa's new customer service centres

Life at Kuyasa Fund Trust  is anything but dull.  In the past 6 months we have launched 5 new Customer Service Centers in 5 different cities: Malmesbury, Makhaza,  Ceres, Oudtshoorn, and Kenton.  With the new additions, the reach of Kuyasa has continued to grow.  We are always looking for new clients and have provided financial services to over 27 000 South African families in the last 10 years of operations.

Kuyasa clients at the launch of the new SMS "short message services"

Kuyasa has recently launched a new SMS “short message services or text message” campaign.  The campaign is designed to attract new clients by advertising a short code number #33282 whereby applicants can send in their details.  The SMS must contain their full name, South African ID and phone number.  Once we obtain their information, we perform a credit check on the client, which lists their eligibility; credit ranking and any crucial judgments or overdue accounts.  Positive leads are then sent to the Branch Managers for distribution amongst the Loan Officers, area dependent.  This new campaign has been very successful in streamlining the application process and the conversion rate is much higher than traditional outreach programs.

Brianna Mersey, Rooftops Canada Technical Advisor, Cape Town

Richard Gillies -WAT offices, Tanzania

As a recent architecture graduate, the opportunity to work with Rooftops Canada and WAT Human Settlements in Dar es Salaam is proving to be a fascinating experience.  WAT is promoting microfinance solutions for incremental housing construction so people with low incomes can build new housing on serviced green field plots.  This is quite a different concept of housing form what we are used to in North American. It has offered many interesting experiences and opportunities for learning.

Fatuma Wanjenu’s house under construction -Tanzania

Karla, the other Rooftops Canada intern working at WAT, and I conducted a series of interviews with WAT clients. The experience of meeting clients, touring their houses, sketching the layout of their plot, and discussing how they would build incrementally was very enjoyable, and helped me better understand peoples’ housing needs and priorities.  With an obviously different culture and climate than in North America, people in Tanzania use and think of their homes in different ways.   For example, the most common practice for cooking is to light a charcoal stove outside, and then bring it inside to cook in the central hallway or sitting room.  This has the obvious effect of producing smoke inside. However, people preferred this to dealing with the dust and lack of privacy outside.  One thoughtful comment from a client was: “It is difficult to cook and eat outside when your neighbours do not always have food.”  Regardless, having a dedicated indoor kitchen was viewed as a low priority.  This research helped inform the design of several 1-2 room core house concepts within a budget of $1500 CAD.  To date, this has been a theoretical exercise, but I look forward to the beginning of construction of the first core houses in the New Year!

By Richard Gillies

Jim Duke with members of Ilinge Labahlali housing co-op

For the past few weeks, I have been working with Ilinge Labahlali Housing Co-op in the Nyanga “township” of Cape Town. The co-op grew like a phoenix out of the ashes of apartheid era housing. Since 2002, with great drive, persistence and passion, the residents have turned former decrepit company hostels into wonderful new housing and a transformed neighbourhood. Rooftops Canada has been supporting the co-op over all this time, and I have had the privilege of helping in this remarkable transition.

Members of the co-op held a weekend workshop on 19 and 20 November to mark the completion of the co-op’s first 274 units and the start of stage two that will see another 324 houses built.  When completed Ilinge Labahlali will be the largest housing co-op in South Africa.  Resource people for the workshop included the Project Architects, a City of Cape Town representative and me – a Rooftops Canada Technical Advisor.

Ilinge Labahlali – before

The workshop addressed some of the critical issues facing the co-op such as how to value improvements made by the members and whether occupancy rights can be transferred.  It also looked in detail at the items that must be covered by the monthly housing charge and the amount the co-op needs to charge its members.

Ilinge Labahlali – after

A large number of the participants were new or “second generation” co-op members and of particular interest to them was a description by Sivuyile Mxokozeli of the history of the co-op. Sivuyile now works for the City and played a key role in starting up the co-op. He provided the link to the struggles of hostel dwellers to improve their living conditions and to the consultation and development processes through which they have chosen co-operative housing as an effective way to own and manage their housing.

By Jim Duke

One of my most interesting and rewarding projects is the household-level case studies I have been working on in close partnership with Richard, the other Rooftops Canada intern at WAT-Human Settlements Trust.  The project aimed to outline land use trends and document changes to household demographics, income, and quality of life amongst WAT’s housing microfinance clients.  

Mandebe - proud owner of a renovated house

Through the course of our field research, we met close to 30 individuals who have taken housing microloans from WAT.  Some have used their loans to build additional rooms to accommodate growing families.  Some have taken loans to install electricity or improve their home’s health and safety features by putting in window screens, a septic system, or proper doors.  Others still have used the loans to add business infrastructure such as small shops or rental rooms.  Regardless of what they were building, all of the families we talked to were driven by a common underlying motivation. They all joined WAT’s housing microfinance program to improve their lives – not just their homes.

While helping me to develop my research skills, this experience has offered another valuable personal and professional lesson.  Navigating the hot, dusty informal settlements to visit clients’ homes to discuss their experiences has humanized the housing microfinance industry for me.  I’m sure I’ll carry many of the faces and stories of the people I’ve met here with me for years to come.  

By Karla Kloepper