Social housing is a multi-million dollar industry. Governments, NGOS, and private builders construct heavily subsidized or even free homes for the world’s poorest people. So why are entire communities of these new, nearly free homes sitting empty when there are close to a billion people in need of housing?

This conversation will focus on exploring housing for families living in extreme poverty in developing countries and why involving home beneficiaries in the design process is crucial to successful outcomes. You’ll gain practical strategies and hear firsthand stories from New Story, a nonprofit building social housing communities in places like Haiti and El Salvador. They will talk you through their step-by-step process for involving their end user in the design and how they avoid building ghost towns.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]