ABSTRACT
The nature of housing form and problems are uniquely influenced by the social matrix of the community. This chapter considers certain social and economic aspects of housing. It examines the level of public housing supply and demand, and the relationship between the cost of land, housing and finance in Kitwe. The chapter addresses the emergence and progress of informal housing, exploring official responses to resettle these people in site-and-service areas, and the relative level of provision between the local authority and informal sector. It presents a broad assessment of housing need in Nkana-Kitwe, followed by practical proposals for improving access to land and housing, including a recommendation to density existing settlements supported by a detailed analysis and comparison between specified and actual building standards. The chapter illustrates the progressive improvements in housing - particularly African mine-worker housing developed by the mining company and its subsidiaries both within and outside the mining township.
