10.16.2009

Relocation of Urban Poor

Relocation Solution Poses a Dilemma to Slum Dwellers Made Homeless by Ondoy.
This story is the second one I've read in a day about the relocation of people. The first one concerns removing the homeless from the area where the Olympic torch is expected to travel for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. I was very surprised that we here in Canada would do this - as one advocate said, why not just house them? Internationally, the local government in Manila will not allow the families return to the area where a recent storm destroyed their homes. It is considered a hazard/dangerous to return. Instead, they've allocated some land outside the city. This is good, yes, but there is a snag. No social services out there, no jobs. If they do maintain jobs in the city, it will cost them more to travel to work. I don't understand why it is so difficult to find land within the city.

No comments: