Читать книгу Voices from the Hills - Ancil Neil - Страница 14

Housing problems are defined in terms of unavailability of adequate housing, inability to acquire housing accommodations because of lack of a financial resources, and an inability to improve existing housing amenities.

The housing problem was of greater concern to the members of the older age group. Younger community members did not view housing as a major problem. This was understandable, since the youths' greater concern was unemployment, and they were not responsible for supporting entire families.

The lack of funds was the common cause of poor housing conditions. Without money, residents found it impossible to construct new homes or repair damaged and dilapidated structures. As a result, most of the houses were old wooden structures, except for the few recent concrete or brick houses. The provision of housing facilities is developmental rather than a social welfare service, and as such, must be considered the responsibility of government authorities. In the case of Laventille, government officials totally neglected the housing problem, and in so doing, denied the people of this community one of the basic human needs for survival.