Urbanization In El Salvador
El Salvador, a small country in Central America, has had a huge historical housing deficit that started to improve in the late 1990s. However, the earthquakes in early 2001 shook not only the country, but also the country’s economic and social foundations thus rendering the need for new housing policies. This is the backdrop of the housing shortage in El Salvador today. Due to many factors, the country that was once stable in adequate housing now is facing an issue with lack of shelter for millions of citizens.
El Salvador had recently went through a twelve-year armed conflict, or civil war, from 1980-1992 that killed about one-hundred thousand people and displaced one million more. The 1986 earthquake then left about ten thousand families …show more content…
When urbanization takes over a country it happens because the nation’s economies move from farms to towns to cities, so that hubs for commerce and activity are introduced into the country. When poorer people decide to relocate into the hubs from the outside for better opportunities, urbanization’s momentum continues to augment even more. Examples of this can be seen in Sao Paulo, Mexico City, and Shanghai. When cities become overcrowded the new residents of the city, the low-income families, create illegal squatting communities on the outskirts of the city. The issue with this is that more often than not, individuals have no rights to the land and horrible living conditions (Voices, 2).
El Salvador is a perfect example of this rapid urbanization; about sixty percent of El Salvadorans are living in urban areas. These urban areas include the capital San Salvador, San Miguel, and Santa Ana. Of this sixty percent, about fifty-six percent are considered to be living in poverty. Urban poverty is widespread due to few employment options and high costs of living. This becomes an issue for the government as well because they are unable to provide the necessary, basic services to all their …show more content…
Not only in their construction materials and building processes, but also in the design of buildings and the use of space as well. Many neighborhoods and towns are now being built using the United States as an influence in their design and construction. The homes they built in the United States are lavish with manicured front lawns and gardens, back patio spaces with grills or pools, flush toilets and large baths, and hot water systems. This same design is brought to El Salvador, a country where running water is frequently
El Salvador had recently went through a twelve-year armed conflict, or civil war, from 1980-1992 that killed about one-hundred thousand people and displaced one million more. The 1986 earthquake then left about ten thousand families …show more content…
When urbanization takes over a country it happens because the nation’s economies move from farms to towns to cities, so that hubs for commerce and activity are introduced into the country. When poorer people decide to relocate into the hubs from the outside for better opportunities, urbanization’s momentum continues to augment even more. Examples of this can be seen in Sao Paulo, Mexico City, and Shanghai. When cities become overcrowded the new residents of the city, the low-income families, create illegal squatting communities on the outskirts of the city. The issue with this is that more often than not, individuals have no rights to the land and horrible living conditions (Voices, 2).
El Salvador is a perfect example of this rapid urbanization; about sixty percent of El Salvadorans are living in urban areas. These urban areas include the capital San Salvador, San Miguel, and Santa Ana. Of this sixty percent, about fifty-six percent are considered to be living in poverty. Urban poverty is widespread due to few employment options and high costs of living. This becomes an issue for the government as well because they are unable to provide the necessary, basic services to all their …show more content…
Not only in their construction materials and building processes, but also in the design of buildings and the use of space as well. Many neighborhoods and towns are now being built using the United States as an influence in their design and construction. The homes they built in the United States are lavish with manicured front lawns and gardens, back patio spaces with grills or pools, flush toilets and large baths, and hot water systems. This same design is brought to El Salvador, a country where running water is frequently