Affordable houses

One day, Asha visited Ravi’s village. She noticed that many families lived in small huts made of dried grass and mud. When it rained, the roofs leaked, and the floors turned to mud. Asha told Ravi that things weren’t much better in her city. So many people couldn’t afford apartments and had to live in crowded slums.

“We all need a safe place to call home,” said Asha. “What if we could build houses that are both strong and cheap?”

“Like using bamboo or mud for walls?” Ravi asked. “And maybe roofs made of tin or terracotta tiles?”

Together, they imagined homes that wouldn’t cost too much but would still be safe and comfortable.

• Affordable Housing means building homes that anyone can afford.
• This can be done by:
  • Using local, cheap materials like bamboo or mud.
  • Creating community housing where families share space and resources.
  • Thinking small—like tiny houses that cost less to build.

• If you could design a low-cost house for your area, what would it look like? 

Resilient and Sustainable Homes

A year ago, Ravi’s village was hit by a big storm. Many homes were damaged because they weren’t built to handle strong winds. But one house survived the storm—it had a sloped roof made of bamboo and a raised floor to keep out floodwater.

“Why don’t we all build houses like that?” Ravi asked.

Asha smiled and said, “In my city, some houses use solar panels and rainwater tanks to save energy and water. They’re good for the planet too!”

• Resilient Homes: Strong enough to handle disasters like storms, floods, or earthquakes.

Sustainable Homes: Use eco-friendly materials like bamboo, mud, or solar panels.

• Examples:
  • Raised homes in flood-prone areas.
  • Sloped roofs for heavy rain.
  • Solar panels and natural ventilation to save energy.

• What can you add to a house to make it strong and eco-friendly?
• What would you change in your house to make it strong and eco-friendly?