Solutions to low income urban housing problems in the Sudan.

The study is concerned with housing problems for low income groups in the Sudan, with special reference to the Capital. The analysis of the Capital's housing problem revealed a lack of a comprehensive housing policy or physical development plan. Haphazard land distributions systems exacerbated the rapid horizontal expansion of low density housing in the city. It was found that government sponsored housing assistance paradoxically tended to aid a highly paid elite. Lack of co-ordination between government units and departments concerned with housing policy resulted in wastage of limited public resources. The housing programme was further hindered by an inadequate modern building technology. Socially, the housing shortage has been worsened in recent years by a continuous rural migration resulting in an over concentration of wealth and employment opportunities in the Capital. The huge growth in illegal housing and squatter settlements was the predictable result of this trend. Lack of technical knowledge has resulted in the construction of housing with inadequate thermal control. Detailed thermal studies were carried out during the course of this study in order to determine optimum building orientation in Khartoum to achieve adequate standards of thermal comfort. Sudanese social traditions were considered to have a great influence on housing design. An analysis of these traditions was prepared including the use of multi functional open space to serve the complex social activities. The main objective of the Thesis was to arrive at an alternative solution to the housing problems. A study of non-profit and self- help housing techniques in housing development revealed a possible direction. Because of lack of both public and private finance, non-profit housing techniques were found to be the most appropriate for the Capital. Such techniques could cultivate the populations monetary and non-monetary resources. The solution proposed was twofold: 1) The establishment of adequate housing standards for non-profit housing associations catering for high and middle income groups. 2) Self-help, self-building housing for low income groups. The Capital's housing needs were projected to 1990 and a detailed building programme set out to achieve the resolution of these needs. Careful analysis of government expenditure suggested that, with the application of non-profit techniques, only a relatively modest public capital contribution was required to begin the diminution of the housing problem in the Sudan.