Why self-help housing failed in urban Turkey: A policy and legislation misalignment

Housing low-income households in Turkey’s urban areas has remained an enduring challenge. During the 1960s, growing housing shortages and economic constraints urged efforts to prevent and upgrade squatter settlements, leading Turkey to adopt self-help housing (SHH) programs for low-cost housing provision. Under the first two five-year development plans (FYDPs), government-assisted SHH initiatives were launched in major cities as part of squatter prevention zones (SPZs). However, the successful beginning of the projects did not lead to successful conclusions; the policy failed to reach its goals in urban areas of Turkey despite the extensive research support. This study investigates the legislative causes behind this failure. It draws on SHH’s core characteristics to analyse its alignment—or misalignment—with Turkey’s policy framework, offering a structured approach to legislative reform. The SHH model is examined across four thematic axes: (1) design process, (2) construction process, (3) actors and roles, and (4) financing mechanisms. The study maps SHH-related regulations in Turkey through a chronological inventory of housing policies, laws, and FYDP targets. Findings highlight the need to restore research-policy dialogue and rethink legislative frameworks to enable viable SHH programs. This study is the first to systematically map Turkey’s legislative misalignments with SHH requirements. It contributes to scholarly debate and future policy-making by offering a novel framework linking architectural theory with policy analysis.