SQUATTER SETTLEMENT EXPANSIONS AND ITS' SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS: THE CASE OF HAWELLA TULA SUBCITY, HAWASSA, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT Squatter settlements are increasing from time to time. If this continues, the establishment of squatter settlements will become major problems in the Hawella Tula Sub-city. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the Squatter Settlement Expansions and its’ Socio-Economic Effects: The Case of Hawella Tula Sub-city. Both primary and secondary data sources were used in the study. The required data were collected from 192 households selected by using a multistage sampling technique. Cross-sectional research design with both quantitative and qualitative methods was used. The data collected through questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS software version 21. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation were applied. Furthermore, inferential statistics such as one sample t-test was used to explore the causes of squatter settlement in the study area. The study theories of literature informal settlements are commonly referred to as land management theory, inadequate economy theory, and demand and supply disequilibrium theory. The results of the study show that new residents were attracted towards informal settlement even though there is poor infrastructure provision. Farmers and low income groups of the society live in the informal settlement. The main causes of the informal settlement expansion were lack of proper land management, existence of corruption, slow responses of the municipality, low income level, expensive rent of house in the city, high cost of land lease, informal settlers’ migration, illegal land grabbing activities, illegal land brokers’ attraction, and hopelessness in the city. Dwellers at squatter settlement live at low quality houses which are made from wood and mud. Similarly, they have poor infrastructure. There is poor health delivery system, absence of waste management that brings environmental and health problem, lack of sewerage line that creates serious problems like illegality, poor housing conditions, lack of basic infrastructures such as electricity, water and quality road, and poor environmental conditions. Absence of services, poorly constructed and unclean toilet, the house built is not attractive and under standard. There is also shortage of electricity. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the expansion of informal settlements and its challenge. In summary the main mechanisms taken by the government body for controlling squatter settlement expansion were bulldozing and legalizing. The study, therefore, recommends that administrative decision measures towards squatter settlement should be applied soon considering low-income groups as much as possible to use a good service and to fulfill infrastructures.