3 steps to develop a rehabilitation plan in poor neighborhoods

When starting a comprehensive rehabilitation project in informal settlements, the first thing to take into consideration is a comprehensive understanding of the parameters that characterize the community. In order to do so, it is vital to establish a base to define the intervention priorities for the area. A topograhic survey to project the construction plans is also required, in addition to a census of the community to determine its potentiality and needs. From this base information, specific rehabilitation projects may be prepared. 

The study Inclusión de habitantes en la ciudadanía plena. Experiencias de desarrollo urbano e inclusión social en América Latina (CAF, 2013) (Inclusion of Inhabitants to Full Citizenship. Urban Development and Social Inclusion Experiences in Latin America) explains that this comprehensive urban renewal proposal in poor neighborhoods is usually made up of social projects, physical-environmental projects, and other housing projects. Following is a detail of each:

• Social projects: The investments and efforts dedicated to improvement plans in poor neighborhoods are driven by the importance of promoting social transformation in the communities. Young people require constant attention, as most of them are idle and lack productive life projects, presenting a risk situation that affects the wellbeing of the community. It is therefore very important to incorporate and support them with educational and training processes.
• Physical-environmental projects: Environmental and infrastructure projects are necessary to improve the health of the environment, reduce the incidence of diseases, and improve the access of people to their homes. It has been demonstrated that as a result of physical improvements and changes that occur in youth behavior and culture that characterizes the neeighborhoods, it is possible to generate significant changes in the quality of life of the inhabitants.  
• Housing projects:Self-built houses, not necessarily with sustainable construction methods, shape the settlements and define a community of people. Housing is guaranteed by the same population, in contrast to the social, environmental, and physical issues described before. However, cases of housing substitution due to natural risks, housing improvement projects,  and associations of houses in legal entities are some of the initiatives in uncontrolled settlements that may significantly contribute to a better quality of life  for its inhabitants.