Identification of Effective Integrated Indicators for Sustainable Affordable Housing Provision

Abstract

The affordable housing sector is receiving increasing attention in developed and developing countries. That attention increased due to the economic inflation and the increasing population growth, which generated a housing deficit affecting low and middle-income households. Accordingly, the research gap emerged with the need to search for affordable and sustainable housing in the residential built environment that meets low-and middle-income family groups' economic, social and environmental sustainability criteria. This paper focused on identifying the most important planning and design indicators contributing to affordable housing provision, integrated with sustainability criteria to achieve part of the comprehensive sustainable development vision. This study aims to identify indicators and produce a framework that works as a guideline to provide reasonable housing that is adequate for low and middle-income groups and to reduce householders' tolerance of its operational costs. A preliminary list of 72 sustainability performance indicators of affordable housing was identified through an extensive literature review. This was followed by a derived two stages framework to define housing affordability. These findings provide useful references for policymakers as well as industry practitioners to develop affordable housing programs sustainably. This helps to achieve the sustainable development at the regional scale.