Harmonising Homes by Exploring and Developing a Sustainable Affordable Housing Model: A Structure Review

Abstract

The global pursuit of sustainable development has brought into focus the pressing need for innovative solutions that address both environmental concerns and socio-economic challenges. In this context, the concept of sustainable affordable housing has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a harmonious blend of ecological responsibility and equitable living spaces. This approach transcends the boundaries of conventional housing by intertwining affordability, energy efficiency and community well-being. However, a key issue impeding progress in tackling the global housing crisis is the lack of comprehensive studies on sustainable affordable housing. While many organisations strive to provide affordable housing alternatives, there is a lack of comprehensive study and analysis on the incorporation of sustainability concepts into these housing developments. The analysis, of a comprehensive selection, using the advanced search approach on Scopus and Mendeley database yielded (n=21) final primary data, which were also analysed. Accordingly, this article’s aims are 1) to explore the sustainable affordable housing factors and 2) to propose a sustainable affordable housing model. The findings highlight three significant elements of sustainable affordable housing, namely, economic, non-economic and environmental factors. The study has also discovered that in discussions addressing sustainable affordable housing, the non-economic side garnered greater emphasis than the economic and environmental aspects. The review concludes with recommendations for policymakers, institutions and property stakeholders to improve the housing provision system by including three pillars such as social, economic and environmental aspects, as it is very important to ensure residential sustainability and harmony.