Author(s)

Ndongo Alain Symphorien¹, Bachynskaya Lyudmila Georgievna²

¹LMEI/CUSI, Marien N’GOUABI University, Higher National Polytechnic School, Brazzaville, Congo.
²Kyiv National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kiev, Ukraine.

The results of the 1974, 1984 and 2007 general population censuses show a remarkable growth of women and girls compared to men and boys. Among the population are many single women, divorced and widowed, who are heads of their own households. The chronic urban housing crisis in Congo and the lack of a functional principle for the development of collective social housing only surprise Congo’s decision-makers and development partners. However, how can vulnerable female-headed households be housed in order to permanently eradicate gender inequality and repair the damage caused to women? This article reviews the status of women and the current urban housing situation from four perspectives, including: household type and size, housing content and surface area per member. Based on a literature review of population survey data, the study proposes three main types of social housing for female-headed households, with areas ranging from 25 m² to 90 m². Thus each household member benefits from between 8.50 m² and 12 m². The European Union delegation to the Republic of Congo, the creation by the Government of the Congolese Housing Bank (BCH) and the Sino Congolese Bank for Africa (BSCA) are a major asset in the fight against poverty and the improvement of people’s living conditions.

Household, Family, Female Head of Household, Social Housing, Congo, Housing Area Per Member

Symphorien, N. and Georgievna, B. (2019) Social Housing for Women Heads of Household in Congo Brazzaville. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7, 383-396. doi: 10.4236/jss.2019.78028.