Backing Incremental Housing

Abstract

Top-down solutions toward Incremental Housing have been criticized because the government has imposed unrealistic and unaffordable standards. On a bottom-up approach, Social Enterprises have been recognized for their contribution to global challenges by implementing service and product innovation and their intermediary role in the processes related to the Built Environment. Theory on Incremental Housing (i.e., process, elements) and Social Enterprises (i.e., characteristics of the organization, intermediary roles) are used to identify three types of Social Enterprises and their contributions to Incremental Housing. A typology was constructed from a cross-case study of 6 cases to answer the following research question: To what extent does the type of Social Enterprise and deployed Roles contribute to Incremental Housing? Firstly, type A: technical-led is a socially driven organization adopting roles as an implementer, emphasizing design and material solutions. Their intervention is sporadic, facing challenges such as a limited network, resources, and motivation to achieve goals. Secondly, type B: community-led, is a socially driven organization adapting roles as a catalyst and partner, focusing on the bottom-up process of self-organization and building social networks on a local scale. Barriers faced by this actor are; the lengthy decision-making process among groups and the minor involvement of the users. Thirdly, type C: project management-led; adopting roles as catalysis, implementer, and partner, has an extensive network with strategic allies. Barriers faced are limited access to the best talent and actors not having a shared vision towards Incremental Housing. Shedding light on these organizations aims to attract the attention of policymakers towards these actors to propel their practice and inspire new ventures towards assisting the Incremental Housing process.