pages-from-au-policy-paper-eradicationSlums are a human construct, representing a certain economic system in urban centres related to informality and weak governance, and resulting from speculative land markets and a general lack of planning and the neglect of long term investment in infrastructure and housing1. Slums are defined by the absence of: adequate housing2, basic urban services,
security of tenure and sufficient living area. It is widely accepted that they are a one of the most visible manifestations of poverty.