Kathy Dorgan
Moderator
Skid Row in Los Angeles, USA, the Al-Zawya Al-Hamra neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt, and the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, although vastly different in geographical and cultural contexts, exhibit certain similarities in their underlying challenges and therefore the successful strategies improving residents lives. In each community residents living in poverty lack housing and critical physical, social and economic assets. Skid Row, located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, faces chronic homelessness, mental health issues, and inadequate housing. Al-Zawya Al-Hamra, a densely populated neighborhood in Cairo, struggles with overcrowding, insufficient infrastructure, and limited access to basic services. Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums, deals with extreme poverty, lack of sanitation, and inadequate access to education and health services. Despite these differences, the foundational problems and the types of interventions fruitfully advancing SDG compliance exhibit notable similarities by focusing on community involvement, infrastructure development, integrated health and social services, and the provision of adequate housing.
Simon Ha, Founder of SH Housing Solutions and Chairman Emeritus of Skid Row Housing Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Los Angeles, has housed over 10,000 people in its 35-year history. He will describe the problems and solutions in Los Angeles.
Donald Whitehead Jr., Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, will present their effort to end and prevent homelessness, ensure immediate needs are met, and protect civil rights. Whitehead will highlight their vision for everyone to have a safe, decent, accessible, and affordable home, and discuss their strategies and successes in advocacy and service provision across the United States.
Jane Anyango Odongo, Executive Director and Founder of Polycom Girls in Nairobi, will share the story of the Kibera slums and the work they have done through the Polycom Development Project to empower young women by providing them with essential sanitary products and reproductive health education. Their achievements include significant improvements in menstrual health management and the reduction of period poverty among girls in one of Africa's largest slums.
Sarah Samir, an Economic Researcher at the Ministry of Solidarity in Egypt, will present issues and solutions to improve the Al-Zawya Al-Hamra neighborhood in Cairo. Her insights will highlight the specific challenges faced by this neighborhood and the initiatives undertaken to enhance living conditions through economic development, social support programs, and the provision of adequate housing.
A panel comprised of architects, non-profit leaders, and civil service members will discuss the specifics of challenges and solutions in addressing the issues surrounding efforts to provide adequate housing for all in three very different cities that share similar issues and solutions.
Objective 1: Identify and Analyze Urban Poverty
Poverty: Examine how poverty contributes to homelessness and poor living conditions in Skid Row and Kibera.
Services Access: Address gaps in essential services like water, sanitation, and electricity.
Housing Conditions: Assess impacts of overcrowding and poor housing on health and safety.
Objective 2: Examine Barriers
Social and Economic Exclusion: Explore barriers to employment and social mobility.
Health Disparities: Investigate common health issues including mental health, HIV/AIDS in Kibera, and substance abuse in Skid Row.
Objective 3: Community-Centric Solutions
Community Initiatives: Empower local organizations to effectively meet community needs.
Infrastructure: Enhance infrastructure to improve living conditions.
Economic Empowerment: Implement job training and microfinance programs.
Objective 4: Enhance Legal and Security Measures
Legal Protections: Improve legal protections for residents.
Security: Increase security to ensure safer environments.
Objective 5: Establish Housing Stability and Upward Mobility
Housing Continuum: provide range of housing options affordable for residents and its workforce.
These objectives streamline efforts to address the shared challenges faced by Skid Row, Kibera, and Al-Zawya Al-Hamra with a focus on scalable and sustainable solutions applicable globally.