Improving shelter conditions by implementing sustainable housing policies

Abstract With increasing global awareness of the application of sustainability and its importance in preserving resources and the ability of future generations to access them, implementing sustainability has become a necessary issue. The housing sector is considered one of the largest energy consumers. Multiple reasons, such as displacement, forced deportation, and a continuation of the conflict, increased the need for housing to shelter the needy. Non-governmental organizations played an important role in helping the needy by establishing housing projects to shelter them. These projects are considered unsustainable for many reasons, such as assault on agricultural land, cutting down trees, not treating wastewater, the absence of sustainable housing principles, etc. This paper aims to address the problem by finding basic points that contribute to developing a sustainable housing policy that can be applied to future shelter projects. To reach the goal of the research, quantitative data was used to find out the opinions of housing and shelter specialists through a questionnaire that was designed according to data summarized from previous studies and formulated according to the five axes of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was then presented to 100 participants, after which the data was analyzed according to the application of the Social Statistical Package (SPSS) and the results were discussed. Providing recommendations for the importance of sustainable housing policies to achieve sustainable shelter, the establishment of a higher council for housing, updating laws, securing appropriate land, encouraging scientific research, and abolishing taxes.