"Informal" housing. The most advanced technology in Latin America: policies for facilitation

Abstract

In the last three decades, "informal" housing and invasion neighborhoods have made up the bulk of urban development in the major cities of Latin America. Statistics are presented that show that informal housing is the major contribution addressing the growing housing deficit of less developed countries. However, public policy has barely shifted from active opposition to acceptance or benign neglect. To constructively respond to the "informal" settlement process it is necessary to understand its complexity. There are three types of "invasion": 1) the "Communal" or classic spontaneous invasion; 2) the "organized" invasion stimulated by politicians, the church, or other activists; 3) clandestine developments: unauthorized sale of unzoned and unserviced land. Current policy responses are evaluated: sites-and-services, land regulation, subminimum development, legalization and upgrading, planning and administration. These all include planning as a common characteristic, which adds to the costs of the developed neighborhood and its housing, extends implementation time and makes the housing provided inaccessible to the really poor. A policy limiting planning regulation to serviced and developed areas is proposed, including a trust to internalized and distribute the value increment from informally or clandestinely developed land.