More than a million people live in La Paz, Bolivia, a relatively small city when compared with other urban centres of the world.

Urban poverty and housing

Mass migration from rural to urban areas is a global phenomenon. Each week, more than a million people move to the cities of the world, seeking jobs and public services, stability, promise and a better quality of life. Some find it; others don't. In the next 25 years, a full 95 percent of this urbanisation will occur in developing countries, whose cities already bend under the weight of too many people competing for too few opportunities. Affordable urban housing options are limited, and governments are increasingly unable to cope with the enormous pressures that the influx of people brings.

In much of the developing world, the migration has given rise to shantytowns that are unsafe and offer unacceptable standards of living. Many occupy land illegally and families never know when they will be forced to move. Others are situated along riverbanks and railway tracks or near garbage dumps where they're susceptible to both man-made and natural disaster.

Habitat for Humanity is committed to the belief that everyone deserves a simple, decent, affordable place to live and is working to help many families in need in urban areas across the globe.

The facts
Shri's story – City life in Delhi, India

The facts

Urban populations are expected to grow at a rate of 1.8% per year, compared just 0.1 percent in rural areas.

The United Nations estimates that by 2007, one in three urban dwellers will live in poverty.

2007 marks the year that the world's population will become 50% rural and 50% urban.

Slums are home to an estimated 920 million urban dwellers worldwide. One third of the world's urban population is in need of improved housing.

Some 35 million new housing units are needed annually – or 95,000 units daily – to meet the urban housing need alone.

Around the world …

Approximately 34% of Africa is urban with 72% of 166 million people living in informal undeveloped settlements.

Of the 800 million Asians living in poverty, about 250 million live in urban areas, many in unplanned urban settlements.

In Central Asian republics, half of the urban poor live in slum conditions.

Latin America and the Caribbean is highly urbanised with nearly 76% of the population living in cities. One third of urban residents, 128 million people, live in slums.

Approximately 1 million people are moving to the cities of the world each week, competing with others for jobs, public services and housing.

95% of urban growth will occur in developing countries.

Source: Habitat for Humanity International Taking Measure Report 2005

Substandard housing found on the outskirts of India's cities

Shri's story – City life in Delhi, India

When the government in Delhi demolished Shri's and his neighbours' shacks, they were all given the opportunity to purchase land – 22 square yards for £94 or 12 square yards for £68. Many were unable to buy and went back to the streets. Others, who were able to find the lump sum for the land, had no money left to build a decent house. And moving to this slum resettlement community means families are further away from employment opportunities, government schools and public health facilities.

In five years, there has been little improvement. Created on barren, treeless land, this community is home to 15,000 families. Piles of garbage smoulder. Water is pumped from shallow wells and is not fit for drinking, though people often do. Houses don't have toilets and the few public toilets cost an equivalent of £0.02 for each use – out of the question for a family of six with a daily income that averages less than £1.10.

Shri lives with his wife and four children in a makeshift house made from layers of empty rice bags, posters and calendars, cardboard boxes and palm branches. With wind, sun and rain testing the structure, he's been patching it up for five years.

Shri wants something better for his family. Now, through a Habitat for Humanity partnership, Shri and eight of his neighbours are saving together to finance improvements to their houses. Through Habitat's "Save & Build" pilot project, 120 families will be enabled to build their own decent, durable homes. Save & Build means the homeowners form a savings cooperative. Once the group has saved sufficient for one house, Habitat provides matching loans for two more houses. Save & Build partners are responsible for seeing that group members repay their loans, and loan repayments are then used to help fund new homes for other families in need.