Garrido 1 Holli Garrido Robert Arnold HNR Community Service Practicum 20 February 2012 Reflective Journal Entry #2 Usually

the focus of delivering products and services to those in need has been concentrated in rural settings with importance placed on shelter and the needs of an individual family. However when the focus switches to an urban area, the emphasis needs to be considerate of peoples limits and capacities. Such things as an established market, local authorities, private contractors, and multi-functional use of outdoor spaces make this effort to help urban areas more difficult since the focus is there, but specific guidelines and assistance methods are not yet available. A shelter Sector Project has set out to try and establish some guidelines, with the support of several organizations including World Vision International and Habitat for Humanity. The project hopes to dig into developmental research on urban vulnerability and the impacts found within and beyond cities, among other goals. With known connections between adequate shelter and health as well as positive effects on the local economy from investing in shelter, the benefits far outweigh the consequences of this project. Humanitarian assistance needs to address these differences in location and how to best deal with the vulnerabilities of the urban poor. When I think about building homes for those less fortunate, I assume that the more houses and in the most areas possible is the best way to go. I never stopped to consider the

Garrido 2 restrictions certain areas would have against such changes. I now know that the already functioning society, in urban areas in particular, can alter how to work around restrictions and best improve that society and help the local poor. This allows me to better understand why most builds for Habitat for Humanity are in suburban or more rural areas, and very rarely do you hear of a build going on in a city. Its a shame because it does not mean that the urban poor is any less in need than those in less populated areas, it just means they are harder to get to. I think that better guidelines and assistance goals should have been worked out long ago, so that the poor population in all areas can be reached, rather than avoided or forgotten because of certain complications. However the Sector Project seems to be on the right track, working with and incorporating humanitarian organizations from all over and each with certain specialties. Whatever small role I can play in the changes Habitat for Humanity will make to better the lives of others, both in urban and rural areas, is a role I gladly accept. The benefits of having a place to live, not only on the individual or family but on the homeless and struggling population as a whole are so abundant that is feels like this focus for change is long overdue. Crawford, Kate, Martin Suvatne, James Kennedy, and Tom Corsellis. "Urban shelter and the limits of humanitarian action ." Urban Displacement. (2010): 27-28. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&hid=22&sid=b72a4c71843a-47c0-acb9-700c8916112f@sessionmgr13