SPARC’s nonprofit construction company, SPARC Samudaya Nirman Sahayak (SSNS), has constructed nearly 3,000 dwelling units in community housing projects during the past three years alone.

The Alliance encourages Mahila Milan and Federation members to become active participants in the construction of their own toilet and housing projects through the innovative Community Contracting Program. Leaders who have built their managerial capacities and financial literacy by managing daily savings programs and slum enumerations can receive sub-contracts to supervise less technical construction work, such as plastering and bricklaying, in projects administered by SPARC and NSDF.

By navigating the challenges that face any contractor – finding labour, competing for projects, completing projects by set deadlines – they learn marketable skills, supplement their incomes, gain self-confidence, and improve their status as leaders in the community. Nirman now gives 30% of all project work to community contractors

When the poor migrate to cities, their housing options are extremely limited. Many build temporary shelters of plastic sheets staked to poles. Over time, corrugated metal sheets replace the plastic, which become the walls and ceiling, to eventually be replaced by bricks and mortar. Gradually, the roof becomes the first floor, as metal sheets are put up as walls, which eventually become concrete, with ladders or narrow staircases leading up from the outside. Depending on the need, congestion, and rate of growth of the slum and the families, slumdwellers continue building these incremental levels.

Throughout India, the Alliance has supported Mahila Milan members in making incremental upgrades to their structures, which become “model houses” showcasing affordable housing solutions and community design. In Pune, demonstration houses have led to upgrading contracts under government schemes. These model houses demonstrate that an important alternative to resettlement in multi-story buildings where in-situ upgrading is possible.

Rapid urbanisation draws millions to urban areas, but the inadequate supply of affordable housing forces the poor to create homes wherever they can find land. Though cities are fuelled by the cheap labour of poor migrants, few authorities include the poor in development plans. It is therefore critical for organisations of the poor, city authorities and financial institutions to work in partnership to create sustainable and affordable solutions to this housing crisis.

At the local level, federation leaders train communities to build their own capacity well before negotiating with authorities. This includes starting housing savings, managing credit within the community, identifying land, looking at existing subsidies and policies for the poor, and holding housing exhibitions. In 1998, SPARC established a nonprofit construction company, SPARC Samudaya Nirman Sahayak (known as SSNS or Nirman), that supports the alliance in undertaking housing and infrastructure construction.

When land is available, communities explore options for securing land tenure and constructing ground storey unit houses. Costs are kept low by contributing local labour, looking at low-cost construction technologies and blending government subsidies with housing loans. All construction is designed, supervised and implemented by local groups. When land is scarce, communities look at multi-storey housing options. Since this type of construction is more expensive, securing subsidies is essential.

Wherever feasible, the Alliance promotes low-rise, high density structures, yet this is not always possible under municipal constraints. We seek the best option in the context of stark choices, while continuing to explore better alternatives and working with regulatory bodies to advocate for better housing policies at the city, state and national level.

Another important component of our strategy is building relationships with financial institutions so that they begin to work with the poor and seriously explore how to develop the low-income housing loan market.