This course will introduce learners to different approaches to thinking about housing justice, bringing together material, ecological, social and spatial approaches to thinking about housing. Rooting itself in Indian cities, but speaking more broadly to struggles for housing justice more globally, it will offer a diagnosis of what housing justice looks like as well as the modes and practices that can move us towards it ranging from activism and direct action to public policy and participatory governance.
Housing Justice: A View from Indian Cities
Instructors: Swastik Harish
2,128 already enrolled
Included with
(11 reviews)
Recommended experience
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
6 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 7 modules in this course
This course introduces learners to different approaches to thinking about housing justice, bringing together material, ecological, social and spatial approaches to thinking about housing. Rooting itself in Indian cities, but speaking more broadly to struggles for housing justice more globally, it will offer a diagnosis of what housing justice looks like as well as the modes and practices that can move us towards it ranging from activism and direct action to public policy and participatory governance. Listen to the introductory video to get a sense of how its organised and our three key learning elements: lecture videos, interactive dashboards with additional resources materials, and then exercises to aid understanding. Then, take a second to introduce yourself in the Discussion Forum labelled 'Introductions'. In case you have any questions for us, use the Discussion Prompt on Course Admin FAQs! And finally, we have a Pre-course Survey for you through which we would like understand more about your motivations and objectives. Do spend a few minutes on this survey questionnaire to help us improve the course as we go along!
What's included
1 video2 readings2 discussion prompts1 plugin
This module starts us off by unpacking our two key terms: housing, and housing justice. This course makes a fundamental move to say that housing is more than just houses. Housing is fundamentally economic, material, social, spatial and political at the same time. So start with the first video on the Introduction to Housing, spend time with the Interactive Dashboard and take Quiz 1 that will help you consolidate your understanding of this frame. Then move to the second video for the week - What is Housing Justice? Finish Quiz 2 after you hear the lecture. Then, spend some time on the discussion forum to debate these approaches to thinking about housing justice. Think about your own approach to these issues, as well as the frameworks we have offered you. There can be no one understanding of housing justice, so this is the week to debate and discuss!
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin
This module offers a framework to think about just, or good, housing. Such housing must be affordable, adequate, and viable. We describe what these words mean, and then offer case studies from across the world on attempts to make housing affordable, adequate and viable. The Module is structured a bit differently this week. Hear the video (What makes housing inadequate?) first. It will describe the logics of the case studies we have presented in our Interactive Dashboard. Then head over to the dashboard, and click on the highlighted countries to download case studies of housing programmes, practices, and policies from all over the world. Finally, take the quick Quiz 3 to consolidate your learnings.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 assignment1 plugin
Ownership is not necessarily the only path to resolving housing inequity. This module will introduce you to rental housing and other tenure systems, while elaborating on the well-known and lesser-known aspects of the rental housing market and how it is supposed to aid in the delivery of housing justice. Watch the videos on Rental Housing with respect to its three core stakeholders: the tenants, landlords and the city. Then spend some time crystallising your understanding of these systems and relating them with your own experiences and environments through the discussion thread. Finally, take the graded quiz 4 to consolidate your learning from this module.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
There can be no talk of housing justice without organising and struggle. This module reminds us that modes of change towards housing justice are never just technical solutions or changes in policy but as much the coming together of people and movements to fight inequalities. We have a video heavy week this time to hear from activists and organisers themselves as part of our faculty. Start from the Introduction video that introduces the activists. Then move on to each of the four. Reflect on these first-person accounts from organisers who have collectivised and organised to address the question of housing justice for themselves and others in the absence of support from other stakeholders in the housing ecosystem. What can we learn from their practices about ways to organise for housing justice in our own cities?
What's included
5 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
In the first four modules, we have discussed housing justice and various ways to address it from different lenses. This module, with an emphasis on the public sector and other stakeholders, will provide an overview on the modes of action across laws, policies, programmes and projects to understand where we can intervene and start working on housing justice. Watch the videos to gain an overview of the scale of action required to solving the housing justice question and how the approach can be broken down in terms of law, policies, programmes and projects. Watch the three lectures on the different scales and modes of action and build on the themes through participation in the discussion forum. The final graded quiz rounds off your course.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
This is the final module of the course. This module comprises of a final assignment through which you can demonstrate your understanding of the various frameworks, concepts and constructs on housing, your analyses of housing justice relative to your own experiences and the broad landscape encompassing different stakeholders. Through this assignment, you will integrate your composite learning from the course and try to form a cogent narrative that outlines your views and ideas on housing justice and possibly access a gateway to further build on your learning from the course. The assignment will be peer-graded, which means you will get to review and grade your fellow learners and vice versa. This will also provide an opportunity for you to explore different themes and perspectives emanating from the global learner audience and to exchange and collaborate with each other.
What's included
1 peer review1 discussion prompt1 plugin
Instructors
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Governance and Society
University of Michigan
The University of Sydney
L&T EduTech
Yale University
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
11 reviews
- 5 stars
72.72%
- 4 stars
9.09%
- 3 stars
9.09%
- 2 stars
9.09%
- 1 star
0%
Showing 3 of 11
Reviewed on Jun 8, 2023
The course contents and videos of stakeholders and community leaders were very insightful
Reviewed on Jul 31, 2022
I found this course quite informative, and well designed for a week by week learning process. Definetly recommend for anyone interested in thinking about housing issues from a justice perspective.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy.