| dc.description.abstract | The theme of the study is to plan for low come housing Arusha town. Like most towns in Tanzania and other developing countries, Arusha has experienced a fast population growth, especially during the past 19 years. Apart from the usual growth factors of towns; other factors have contributed seriously to this remarkable growth of the town namely:
The population pressure of the surrounding area, especially the nearby Kilimanjaro region,
ii) The designation of Arusha town as the headquarters of the East African Community and iii) The extension of the town boundaries in 1967 and 1975. A combination of these factors has thus resulted into a population increase of almost ten times the population of 1957. Such growth has brought with it serious planning implications especially in the areas of housing and urban infrastructure. The town thus experiences similar problems as those found in other towns of developing countries, these are:
i) Shortage of housing to meet the demands of the growing population.
ii) The existence of uncontrolled settlements ( as a result of (i) most of which are poorly constructed and usually provided with poor, or without infrastructural services (water supply drainage and sewage facilities, electricity and adequate transportation network) and community facility The study therefore begins by discussing the economic and social justifications of adequate urban house and then goes one to define the scope, objectives of study as well as the reasons for carrying out a study in Arusha. The research hypotheses put forward reflect to a great extent the inherent housing problems of the study area. An attempt is also made to study efforts made by other countries (Kenya and Zambia) to solve their low income housing problems. The study then proceeds to discuss the historical development and growth of Arusha town .Close reference is kept in the discussion on the question of housing and infrastructure distribution among the town in various residential areas. Later, an analysis is made of the National Policies on Housing and Urbanization as well as the institutions concerned with the aim of finding out to what extent they are really committed to solving the housing problems of the low income people On basis of the field survey findings conducted by the author, the study discusses the existing housing situation in Arusha in general but more emphasis is put on analysis of the low income submarket. Reference is made to the availability, distribution and quality of the existing low income housing stock, infrastructural services and community facilities. The survey findings verify the observations made earlier that the low income population of Arusha faces a severe housing shortage. The reasons behind this shortage can be summarized to be:
l)Shortage of surveyed building plot and building materials
ii) Restrictive public policies
iii) Financial constrains
iv) Lack of coordination among the agencies concerned taking these problems into consideration the study finally comes up with planning proposals on a short and long term basis the short term proposals aims at providing solutions to the current pressing problems while the long term ones aim at relieving Arusha of those problems which will arise as a result of her future growth and hence it will not be able to sustain. | en_US |
