House in Ethiopia

After the nationalization of urban land and extra houses in 1975, housing for expatriates was only from the Public Housing and Rental Administration of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

This unit has set up separate housing pools for various organizations and groups employing foreign personnel, including:

• Embassies
• UNDP and UN Agencies
• ECA and
• OAU

Each of these bodies manages the allocation of housing within its own pool according to its own regulations. Housing rules have now facilitated and foreign residents are now allowed to seek housing on the open market.

The UNDP/Agencies pool provides for all UN personnel except ECA. The allotment of accommodation in both the ECA and UNDP/Agencies pool is done firmly on a “first come, first served” basis, depending on the date of entrance in Ethiopia. “Reservations” of housing before arrival is not allowed.

Most housing in Addis Ababa and its vicinity is of good standard. Nearly, all houses and apartments offer basic modern facilities, including hot and cold running water and electricity.

The monthly rent for “Government” apartments ranges from 1200 to 2,600 Birr (US$133 - 289). The rent for houses varies from 1500 to 10,000 Birr (US$167-1,111). A deposit at at least equal to two and three months rent must be paid before a new tenant moves into an apartment or a house, respectively.

Rent expenses are made at the end of the month. The lease between the Public Housing and Rental Administration and the tenant must be renewed every year or more.

Accommodation in other parts of Ethiopia is usually of a poorer quality but also cheaper than in Addis Ababa. The same intricacy and delays in finding housing happen there as well in greater degree.
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Many of the houses in Ethiopia are below qualitative standard and lack sufficient space. The amount of provision for water supply, electricity, and drainage is very minimal. The lives and health of people living in housing of such poor quality and with such insufficient provision for water, sanitation, and drainage are under continuous threat.

Nevertheless, in the developing world in general and in least developed countries like Ethiopia in particular the number of people living in such conditions is rising every year.

Studies have shown that without major improvements in housing markets and in the expansion and improved provision of infrastructure and service, it is expected that the population living in such environmental expand very fast (Engelman Lovert,
1997).

Almost 85% of the houses in Ethiopia are made of mud and stick or thatch walls, which fall down easily. Homes are often cramped, with dirt floors, leaking roofs and no windows or doors, leaving their residents vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, insects and rodents.

Poor ventilation for inside cooking fires is a common cause of respiratory problems. Furthermore, majority of the population has no access to decent sanitation facilities, and more than 50% of the population does not have safe drinking water, causing disease to run rampant.

Substandard housing not only has an unfavorable effect on health, but also on education, job performance and overall quality of life. Most families living in such circumstances have little possibility of improving their situations without assistance and life is a daily battle for most.

Keywords: housing, Ethiopia, house, home,