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They call it 'a dream fulfilled' — new homes designed for (and by) slum residents
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- The Sanjaynagar Redevelopment Project in Maharashtra, India, is transforming a crowded slum of 900 people living in 206 tin shacks into a community of modern apartments, improving living conditions and privacy for residents.
- Each family pays 10% of construction costs through low-interest loans from the social lending platform Rang De, with additional funding from the Indian government's PMAY scheme and philanthropic donors like the Currystone Foundation.
- The project emphasizes community involvement, with residents choosing neighbors, designing homes, and maintaining social bonds through shared courtyards and communal spaces, preserving the social capital of the slum.
- Local nonprofit Snehalaya played a crucial role in building trust, educating residents, and facilitating the transition to temporary housing during the multi-year redevelopment process.
- The project has won international recognition, including a Silver award at the World Habitat Awards, and despite potential delays from housing law reforms, it aims to continue expanding, offering a model for sustainable, community-led urban housing.
