Positivist Theory

The purpose of this section is to highlight the two main theories that will be used to explain the self-help housing phenomenon in the study area. Firstly, the use of the Neo-liberal theory is an attempt to clarify and explain the meaning, nature and challenges of the economic context associated with the phenomenon of self-help housing and housing consolidation.

Secondly, the Positivist theory will be used to predict and understand why the self-help housing phenomenon may unfold. In the specific context of housing and for the purpose of this study, the positivist theory will be presented to interpret housing in three dimensions which could explain or justify the reasoning behind incentives of self-help housing for low income households. These

According to Soliman (2000) the positivist theory views housing in three dimensions, looking at economic, environmental and social issues realistically. Firstly, “it sees housing as a mode of capital investment, that takes effect at various levels and it is determined by individual economic status” (Soliman, 2000). In superimposed housing this view on what is happening in the residents may have realized that investing capital in housing reaps benefits through housing service and as such they have engaged in the housing consolidation process in a manner that suits their individual economic standing. Consequently it would be expected that low income residents of Adams Mission have achieved different levels of housing consolidation. Secondly, theory notes that suitable housing provides basic services that influence and reflect a community’s health and environmental conditions, thus also taking effect in the individual household level (Soliman, 2000). Preliminary observations of the area depict that the most assistance in the way of service that residents of Adam Mission have received is VIP toilets that which were provision facilitated through the councilor. The provision of toilets as a basic service has big influence in health and environmental condition in Adams Mission. Therefore provision of the toilets as a basic service which may have been put in primarily to enhance the health condition in the area, may have created an enabling environment, and may inadvertently have incentivized the substantial level of housing consolidation pursued and achieved by low income residents of Adams