CENTER FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES INC
For CLC, key elements of adequate living standards include, but not limited to, the following:
Livable Communities. People must live in habitable, affordable, safe, secure, and accessible dwellings, i.e., adequate housing or livable communities. Housing must offer enough space and protection from rains, heat, cold, untoward climate conditions, health hazards, natural hazards, and physical/structural hazards. More than land and structures, adequate housing or livable communities must also ensure that people and communities can live in security, peace, and dignity. People must be shielded from arbitrary eviction, harassment, and intimidation, and must therefore be aided to claim a secure tenure protection. In livable communities, people have access to employment or income opportunities, health care services, educational and child care services, and other social facilities and services. Adequate housing must also be made accessible to disadvantaged groups – especially the most vulnerable. And finally, livable communities or adequate housing must allow for social inclusion and participation, respect, the expression of cultural identity, and recognition of cultural diversity.
Adequate Water. People must have access to safe, sufficient, and available water, for drinking, for personal use, and for domestic use, when needed. Moreover, accessible water must be of adequate quality that is safe and free from microorganisms, physical and chemical substances, and radiological hazards that are harmful to people’s health; adequate water quality includes the acceptability of its color, water, and taste, allowing customary personal or domestic use.
Adequate Sanitation. People must have access to safe, sufficient, and sustainable sanitation facilities and services. Aside from providing dignity and privacy, adequate sanitation services allow for the protection of the quality of drinking water supplies and water resources.
Adequate Economic, Social, and Infrastructure Support. People must be able to access available financial, education, health, transportation, and governance services and infrastructure. Strengthening access to these services and infrastructure will allow for the self-help and empowering realization of adequate living standards.