Toward a formulation of an alternative policy for urban low-income housing in developing countries : a return to native housing and self-help implementation strategies

Abstract

The main purpose of this dissertation was to examine, using the Calabar Municipality (Nigeria) as a model, factors and questions that have implications for the formulation of an alternative policy for urban low-income housing in developing countries; namely, a return to native housing and self-help implementation strategies. To do this, an identical questionnaire was designed and self-administered to those who influence housing policy and those affected by it. The survey instrument made use of a five-point Likert-type scale of measurement. The respondents had the choice to either "strongly disagree", "disagree", be "undecided", "agree", or "strongly agree" with each statement in the questionnaire. For policy formulation, areas of general consensus and significant disagreement among the four populations were necessary. For statistical testing the following null hypotheses were developed: (Ho('1)) That there are no differences among the federal low-income housing residents of Calabar Municipality, housing policy-makers/professionals, bankers, and housing contractors/developers regarding insufficiency of low-income houses in Calabar Municipality (Nigeria). (Ho('2)) That the majority of low-income residents of Calabar Municipality cannot conveniently afford the type of low-income housing currently available. (Ho('3)) That the low-income residents of Calabar Municipality, housing policy-makers/professionals, bankers, and contractors/developers all regard native housing acceptable for the low-income residents of Calabar Municipality. (Ho('4)) That there are no differences among the federal low-income housing residents, housing policy-makers/professionals, bankers, and contractors/developers regarding the acceptability of the use of self-help effort as a major policy strategy to implement the low-income housing programs, and that they tend to find self-help effort acceptable. Analysis of variance was used to determine if significant differences occurred and Scheffe's test pinpointed specifically the source or sources of significant differences; all at (alpha) (LESSTHEQ) 0.05 level of significance. Based on each item on the questionnaire, Hypothesis One was accepted but rejected for Item 4, Hypothesis Two was entirely accepted, Hypotheses Three and Four were each rejected for six items and accepted for the remaining items. The major conclusions were that low-income houses were insufficient and unaffordable in Calabar Municipality. Native housing was accepted for urban low-income people with self-help efforts as major implementation strategy.