Abstract

This study provides insight into the preferences of ‘urban poor’ for housing. This study provides some interesting and revealing facts pertaining to urban poor housing expectations. This study is based on the socioeconomic data from three Indian cities. Main characteristic of these cities is that, over 13% of all of its urban population come under the ‘urban-poor’ category. More than half of the urban poor population is willing to travel in excess of 45 minutes to their respective work places and more than 60% of them don’t want a separate kitchen in their homes. The study concludes that with right housing location identification in fringe areas of cities, better design of homes according to urban-poor’s expectations and creating financial products tailor made to their earning pattern, a mass market can be unlocked at the bottom of the economic pyramid for urban-poor housing. With such targeted interventions, India can create and sustain a more inclusive urban economic growth.