In Search of a Home

Rental and Shared Housing in Latin America

Alan Gilbert

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English

Routledge
18 November 2025

Homelessness; Urban & municipal planning

Series: Routledge Library Editions: Housing

Originally published in 1993, In Search of a Home filled a conspicuous gap in the literature on housing in the developing world at the time. For many years, self-help settlement and the owner-occupier had commanded the attention of governments and researchers, leaving huge numbers of tenants and sharers invisible. However, the assumption that every family both wished and was able to become an owner-occupier was now under scrutiny and it was becoming clear in many of the larger Latin American cities that there was a limit to universal home ownership, even of the self-help kind. Several governments in the developing world had expressed concern about the rental housing market, which had long been neglected at the policy level. Research activity had begun to respond to these changes, and this book put the spotlight on rental and shared housing.

Based on three large surveys carried out by research teams from Caracas, Mexico City and Santiago, the book investigates the nature of owners, tenants, sharers and landlords, and explores the relationships between them. It considers both government policy and the reasons why rental housing was in decline.

In Search of a Home is intended for government planners, social scientists and students of development – particularly those concerned about urbanization and the housing of the poor. It is relevant not only to Latin America but also to many other parts of the developing world where large numbers of families live in rental accommodation.

By: Alan Gilbert
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781041136910
ISBN 10: 1041136919
Series: Routledge Library Editions: Housing
Pages: 188
Publication Date: 18 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , Adult education , Adult education , ELT Advanced , Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Alan Gilbert was, at the time of original publication, Professor of Geography at University College London. He is the author or editor of many articles and books on the developing world in general and Latin America in particular. He had also acted as an adviser to several developing world goverments and UN agencies.