Improving Housing by Conventional Versus Self-help Methods: Evidence From Israel

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Abstract
The study compares the two major processes of improving housing conditions for moderate- and low-income households in Israel: the institutional solution - relocating eligible households in new public housing; and the spontaneous self-help solution - households who purchase their housing units from a housing management company, improve and enlarge them on their own initiative and with their own resources, with or without the assistance of a publicly subsidised loan. It was found that the self-help improvements produced better housing conditions, better relationships with neighbours and more satisfaction with housing. They increased the individual motivation to work, and also had a positive aggregate impact in preventing neighbourhood decay and encouraging urban renewal. These results were achieved at a low cost to the public treasury as compared to the institutional solution.