BSHF announced the winners of the 2011 World Habitat Awards. Full details of all finalists can be found on the Awards website - the following provides a brief overview of the winning entries.
Housing for Health Programme, Australia
Initiated in 1985, the Housing for Health programme aims to improve the health of Indigenous people in Australia, by ensuring they have access to safe and well functioning housing and an improved living environment.
It uses a survey and fix methodology for testing whether the houses are safe to live in and have functioning electrical and water supply systems.
The Nine Healthy Living Practices pioneered through the project are now part of current Federal and State Government policy and knowledge gained through the Housing for Health projects has been used to develop a national Indigenous housing design code that respects cultural traditions and norms.
Community Programme for Neighbourhood Improvement, Mexico
The Community Programme for Neighbourhood Improvement (PCMB) is a community-driven neighbourhood improvement programme that was established in 2007 by the Social Development Secretariat (SDS) of the Federal District Government of Mexico City.
It uses a participatory approach to improving public spaces in informal settlements and low-income neighbourhoods, particularly those with high levels of social conflict, marginalisation and/or urban decay.
Projects developed through the programme include illumination and paving of streets, provision of recreational, community and sports facilities, rain collection and drainage systems as well as small parks.
Funds are distributed directly to the local communities, who are given full responsibility for delivering the projects selected, after training in financial and project management and with the support of the municipality. Over 500 million pesos (US$40 million) have been disbursed to date and the programme is ongoing, with 600 projects due to be completed by 2012.
