Land and Housing

In Brazil, millions of rural families are landless and hungry because they cannot grow food [Paul Smith]

More than one billion people live in inadequate housing, and land ownership is being concentrated in the hands of multinational corporations

There is a clear link between landlessness and poverty. In many countries, a tiny minority of rich landowners own vast areas of fertile land, while the rest of the population has no land on which to grow food

Most people live on what they can grow, and can't afford expensive inputs such as fertiliser or machinery.

To survive they often need to buy food, but in most rural areas there are few jobs outside agriculture, so few can afford to buy the food they need.

No security

Meanwhile, in many cities, more than half the population live in shanty towns or "favelas", without security of tenure and in conditions that are life- and health-threatening.

Bad housing causes poor health, difficulty in sleeping and increases family conflict. Often there is no sanitation or running water.

In some areas, rubbish is not removed, creating epidemics and other health problems. Living in sub-standard housing may lead to a loss of self-esteem and isolation.

Homelessness increases all these problems and nearly always means exclusion from medical care.

Among an estimated 100 million homeless people around the world, increasing proportions are women and children.

section highlights

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