Resources

A research initiative lead by a global cohort of scholars to advance innovative conceptual and methodological approaches around urban vacancy, occupation, and commoning. There have been a series of seminars and engagements on the questions of vacancy, occupation and commoning, all of which are geared towards understanding these phenomena in different contexts with a view to influencing policy and practice. By University of Cape Town, Human Sciences Research Council, TU Wien, Trinity College Dublin

A collaborative research project about informal land and building occupations in Bogota, Cape Town and Sao Paulo. Developed closely with activists, the City Occupied platform seeks to properly understand and reposition land occupations in urban development discourse and practice.

A publication arguing for a shift in South Africa's housing delivery model away from housing projects built by large private developers and towards proper support and funding for self-built housing. While quite technical in nature, the core argument that the state cannot withdraw its funding and support for housing construction as it moves away from direct provision is incredibly important in the South African context. By Isandla Institute & Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa

Publication explaining how to approach informal settlement upgrading from the perspective of the Just Urban Transition. The first publication in South Africa to explicitly look at and engage with this question in any real way. By Isandla Institute.

Publication examining how the City of Cape Town could actively support the delivery of small-scale rental housing to boost housing supply, encourage formalisation, improve the city's urban form, stimulate more equitable income and address infrastructure challenges. By Development Action Group and the Human Sciences Research Council.

An advocacy publication which challenges the use of centrally located public land as parking lots for government vehicles. The report argues that it makes no sense from a housing justice or city-building perspective to use valuable public land to park government vehicles. A set of alternative proposals are put forward that center the social function of public land. By Ndifuna Ukwazi