Assessing the rationale of linking housing delivery with the provision of clean water and proper sanitation in low-income settlements. Case study : Kennedy Road in Durban.

Abstract

This research study assesses the rationale of linking housing delivery with the provision of clean water and proper sanitation. This is achieved through assessing issues such as lack of access to adequate housing, clean water and proper sanitation using Kennedy Road informal Settlement as a case study. Chapter one of this research paper introduces the topic based on delivery of housing and the provision of water and sanitation for a low income group in an urban setting. It further provides an overview of the research problem, research aims and objective. The chapter also defines fundamental concepts such as quality of Life in low income settlements, informal settlements, sustainable human settlements, and water-related diseases which are essential in the understanding the study. It also presents the methodology, which the research study adopted to collect data. This section looks at the research design, methods applied, sampling of the population, data collection as well as analysis methods. This study adopted a qualitative research method to collect data. Data was collected using household surveys, which were conducted in the selected case study area and interviews were conducted with the officials from the housing, water and sanitation units. Chapter two looks at key elements of the research study namely theoretical framework. This chapter provides the theories on which the study is based. These theories or approaches are Basic Human Needs Approach, Human Rights Based Approach, Threshold Saturation Theory and Integration and Coordination Approach. Chapter three provides a literature review on the delivery of housing with the provision of clean water and proper sanitation to the urban poor. Furthermore the literature helps to create a framework for understanding global trends on housing delivery together with the provision of clean water and proper sanitation for the urban poor. This chapter also looks at how these trends influence South African housing delivery and the provision of water and sanitation. International and local case studies are provided to support the argument. This section analytically engages with the existing literature, it also analyses the work of researchers, scholars and the international and local legislative framework on housing, water and sanitation. Chapter four presents an overview of the historical background of the case study, which is Kennedy Road. It also unpacks the characteristics of the area, by considering the geographical location, the historical background of the study area, plus the socio-economic status including valuable resources, employment level and the well-being of the occupants. Chapter five presents the analysis of data followed by a discussion of the research findings and an explanation of how the research findings relate to the research questions that guided the study. Chapter six deals with the findings and outlines the conclusion for the research paper. It concludes the research paper by providing a review of the entire research and further gives recommendations based on the findings of the research. Research findings reveal that lack of access to adequate housing, clean water and proper sanitation has a negative effect on the health and the well-being of the urban poor; the further show that lack of access to water contributes to ill health, environmental and socio-economic problems. The summary of the results and analysis were gathered from the interviews and questionnaires in the study area, during the site visits that were conducted. The summary of findings determines the degree to which the research paper has successfully answered the research question, sub-questions and objectives.