Rapid Assessment of Squatting Report (NOTE: LARGE FILE)

For the purpose of this study however, an attempt is being made to develop a classification of
squatter settlements by size (number of households). Based on the assumption that one
household in most cases amounts to one household unit or structure, the following table is a
suggested classification and the information represents the 320 sites surveyed.
Table 1: Classification of Settlements by number of Household Units
# of
households/units
Percentage (based
on 320 sites)
Classification
10 or less 18% Incidental squatting
11 – 99 43% Small settlement
100 – 500 22% Medium settlement
Above 500 8% Large settlement
No Response 9%
The present survey has revealed that some of the sites based on size (ten or less
households/units) should not really be classified as settlements but should be referred to, as
indicated in the table as Incidental squatting. In the survey, approximately eighteen percent
(18%) of such sites (incidental) were identified, while some forty-three percent (43%) of sites
fall under the category small settlements. Medium settlements accounted for twenty two
percent (22%) of settlements surveyed, while large settlements comprised approximately eight
percent (8%) of the data.
The survey also revealed that more than six (6) of the large settlements had in excess of one
thousand (1,000) units. Of note are Windsor Heights in St. Catherine with approximately two
thousand two hundred and seventy five (2,275) households; and in St. James, Norwood and
Barrett Hall with over two thousand one hundred (2,100) households/units each.
The most prevalent household size for the squatter settlements as indicated by the pie chart in
Figure 3 below is three (3) to six (6) persons which represents two hundred and eighty seven
(287) of the three hundred and nine (309) sites from which responses were obtained.
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