Why Shanty Towns Exist
Why do Shanty Towns Exist?
Comparison between the Los Altos de Cazuca and United States Shanty Towns
Janice Rassett
Intro to Geography
September 20, 2014
Why Shanty Towns Exist? Governments are often tight-lipped when it comes to the status of its people and the actual development of their country. They would often hide this fact by boasting about the country’s growth and development while shielding away any evidence that would prove their deceit. However, the real state of a country cannot be hidden for long especially with the presence of shanty towns even if they are well-developed. The presence of these shanty towns are a concern for governments, not only because of its state but it emphasizes the lapses of government policies when it comes to their people. Whether they are located on developed or developing countries, shanty towns are a symbol of poverty as people in these towns are living in decrepit homes in a community filled with violence and uncertainty and lacking basic human necessities. Shanty towns – also known as slums or squatter areas – are known as illegal housing communities or developments reflecting a country’s incapacity to provide ample housing or the onset of poverty. They usually are made up of light and scavenged materials such as mud, thatch, timber or corrugated iron that would then be erected in any free space without permission from the government or its owners. Shanty towns often have many citizens and lack basic services and necessities such as drainage, sanitation and water supply. Shanty towns are located in any location: alongside factories, railways and highways as they are close to casual employment opportunities. However, these areas are considered to be dangerous and close to high-risk sites (Clark 2003: 116-120). The existence of shanty towns can be attributed to several different factors. First and foremost, they exist because of the disparity between industrial or urban labor growth as compared to
Comparison between the Los Altos de Cazuca and United States Shanty Towns
Janice Rassett
Intro to Geography
September 20, 2014
Why Shanty Towns Exist? Governments are often tight-lipped when it comes to the status of its people and the actual development of their country. They would often hide this fact by boasting about the country’s growth and development while shielding away any evidence that would prove their deceit. However, the real state of a country cannot be hidden for long especially with the presence of shanty towns even if they are well-developed. The presence of these shanty towns are a concern for governments, not only because of its state but it emphasizes the lapses of government policies when it comes to their people. Whether they are located on developed or developing countries, shanty towns are a symbol of poverty as people in these towns are living in decrepit homes in a community filled with violence and uncertainty and lacking basic human necessities. Shanty towns – also known as slums or squatter areas – are known as illegal housing communities or developments reflecting a country’s incapacity to provide ample housing or the onset of poverty. They usually are made up of light and scavenged materials such as mud, thatch, timber or corrugated iron that would then be erected in any free space without permission from the government or its owners. Shanty towns often have many citizens and lack basic services and necessities such as drainage, sanitation and water supply. Shanty towns are located in any location: alongside factories, railways and highways as they are close to casual employment opportunities. However, these areas are considered to be dangerous and close to high-risk sites (Clark 2003: 116-120). The existence of shanty towns can be attributed to several different factors. First and foremost, they exist because of the disparity between industrial or urban labor growth as compared to
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