Approximately over a billion of the world’s urban population do not have access to adequate housing and therefore live in slums and squatter buildings. Most of these victims of homelessness and inadequate access to housing are low-income earners. While policymakers such as the United Nations (UN), World Bank, and most governments have acknowledged the importance of housing as a basic right aside from its economic benefits to every nation, this acknowledgement is yet to be translated into effective policies to mitigate the global housing affordability crisis.
A review of extant literature shows that besides inadequate policies from governments to improve housing supply, most developers in the housing sector still consider housing supply to low-income earners as an uninviting business segment due to risks and barriers. On the demand side, the limited low-cost housing facilities that are supplied are mostly unsatisfactory in meeting the true needs of the targeted household, which often leads to housing overhangs. Considering these supply and demand challenges and the fact that Africa is the most urbanizing continent, Africa’s housing affordability crisis demands the utmost attention. As such, there is a need for low-cost housing that meets the needs of the present and future generations while ensuring optimum economic, social, and environmental balance. Though studies have been conducted on affordable or low-cost housing provision, ensuring sustainability attainment in such facilities remains a topical issue in most African countries and the world at large. Therefore, bridging the gap between affordable housing and sustainable housing is germane.