ADAPTIVE HOUSING PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING URBAN POOR COMMUNITIES IN POST-PANDEMIC CITIES

Abstract

This paper examines the role of adaptive housing planning strategies in strengthening the resilience of urban poor communities in the post-pandemic era. The study highlights how planning approaches to adaptive housing can mitigate vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19 and support more equitable urban development. Synthesizing recent literature, the review emphasizes participatory governance, sustainable design integration, and innovative policy and financing mechanisms tailored to urban poor populations. Using resilience frameworks—including Holling’s Resilience Theory, the Adaptive Capacity Framework, and the Social-Ecological Systems approach, the paper illustrates how adaptive housing operates at the intersection of physical infrastructure, socio-economic conditions, and environmental systems. Findings indicate that adaptive housing planning not only addresses immediate post-pandemic housing needs but also lays the foundation for long-term resilience, inclusivity, and improved quality of life. The paper concludes with a call for stronger collaboration among policymakers, urban planners, and researchers to scale context-sensitive adaptive housing strategies within broader resilience and poverty alleviation agendas.