The World Health Organization defines housing as the “residential environment which includes, in addition to the physical structure that man uses for shelter, all necessary services, facilities, equipment and devices needed or desired for the physical and mental health and social well-being of the family”. The proposed housing development in Jaffna takes this concept a step further by extending the scope of housing to include the social well-being of the surrounding society as well. For the most part, housing developments in developing countries have traditionally focused on providing affordable and eco-friendly housing for obvious reasons.  

In the proposed project, the developers are introducing a new concept of themed housing development that focuses on the specific requirements and strengths of the society where the houses will be built to provide the physical and mental health and social well-being of not only the residents but also the surrounding community. Such a concept is also likely to allay any misgivings the community often has with new housing developments.    

As for Jaffna, the developers have studied the environment and have decided to pursue a project that would provide the opportunity for willing expatriates to find a home away from home while being able to contribute their knowledge and skills to benefit the society at large. Since migrating to countries abroad, many Tamil expatriates have acquired considerable knowledge that can benefit the society in Jaffna. The development hones on this premise by including, on a stage-by-stage basis, facilities such as a conference hall and an IT facility for the expatriates to engage with the local community.  

As with any development, economic viability is of prime consideration. To make the housing project attractive, the developers have teamed up with a reputable and well-established management company to manage the villas in the housing complex for income generation while the expatriates are away from their housing investment. The project is also expected to provide employment to the locals through the maintenance of the housing complex and by supplying goods and services to the visiting expatriates. The learning facilities in the complex will also be available for rent for local use, thus generating additional income for all.  

In the presentation, the development team will present its vision and the plans for this multi-faceted approach to the proposed housing development in Jaffna. This themed approach that benefits both the investors and the local community, while remaining economically viable for all, will be discussed in some detail. The discussion will include the floor plans, management of the complex, facilities available for social engagement, employment opportunities for the locals, and the future direction of the developers. Ideas from the audience will be sought to further enhance the experience of the expatriates to interact with and contribute to the local community in this themed approach to housing, aptly termed as the Community Approach to Housing Development in the Developing World.