The age of cities and organizations of the urban poor: The work of the South African homeless people’s federation

This chapter describes how the South African Homeless People’s Federation and its support non-governmental organization (NGO), People’s Dialogue on Land and Shelter, have sought to develop approaches to housing that meet the needs of low-income households. It describes what has been achieved in physical terms – the houses and neighbourhoods developed, the savings mobilized, the income-generation schemes supported. But, as the chapter stresses, the ways in which these are done have as much importance for poverty reduction as what was constructed. It describes the ways in which these were achieved – rooted in community learning, experimentation, control and management – and how the alliance of this federation and the support NGO has sought to demonstrate to national, provincial and local governments and international agencies that there are more cost-effective approaches to housing improvement and development for low-income groups that are also more inclusive, participatory and sustainable.