By referring to the different stages, the lands were state owned until the year of 2000. The policy of nationalization of lands (12) during 1963 has secured the state lands right, which then became an important actor on land distribution (fig.23). The household incomes and the social status were the government selective criteria to either living in the European houses or being evicted. For the excluded groups, the government has started some housing programs as an attempt to solve the housing crisis. The predominant first housing programs from 1960 to 1970, entitled “cités de recasement”, are relocating programs for the low-income groups living in poor areas, which is well known as “opération carcasse” …show more content…
While Algeria turned towards the market economy, the housing sector was directly affected. Private investments and entrepreneurs became active actors in the housing production. However, the decentralized approach was made only in theory. The government was still involved in the decision making through public administrations, and those have been created to rather manage the transition but mainly to control. The creation of the real estate management office (OPGI), responsible for land property supervision and is well known as being inflexible and very corrupted, has neglected the private sector participation. The private sector in Algeria has a weak working environment. Due to the long duration process, business creation is extremely challenging, and accessing finance seems to be difficult with elevated administrative taxes. As a consequence of these facts, the housing production was slow and the prices were extremely expensive (IMF, …show more content…
Depending on the household incomes, housing allowance is provided. However, this allowance required formal applications and proof of monthly revenues, which the informal employment cannot provide. In 2005, the government has adopted another approach: the self-construction. This policy meant to provide low-priced land for the low-income groups who are then responsible for a self-construction. The purpose of that approach is to secure tenancy for the poor through formal planning.
In practice, the process is very complex. The APC, who is in charge of delivering construction permits, seemed incompetent to respect deadlines and provide fair approval deliveries. The application process requires formal plans and expensive costs. Consequently, some of the low-income groups have accessed the lands and have ignored urban regulations on the housing construction. Others have hosted illegally other families to share the costs.
Slowly, illegal housing surrounded formal units is forming a new informal settlement that grew