Self-help housing in Bangkok

This paper analyzes past and present efforts of government agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector to improve the housing conditions of some one million urban poor who live in informal settlements in Bangkok, Thailand. It gives special attention to the current programme, Baan Mankong that supports community-based organizations in informal settlements to build city-wide networks that enable the communities to negotiate better deals with landowners for the lease or purchase of land, and to assist in the improvement of housing and infrastructure. It finds that the programme, while effective, also has some limitations and concludes that Thailand needs a national housing policy that promotes adequate housing for all. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.