Dignity In Shelter (DIS)

As Nigeria's population grows and more people migrate to cities like Lagos and Abuja, efforts toward urban inclusion have struggled to keep pace. Many families are being left behind, with vulnerable households increasingly affected by forced evictions and the demolition of their homes. Women and children are often the most impacted, left without safe shelter or stability.

 

To address this challenge, Fabulous Urban Nigeria Foundation (FUN), supported by Heinrich Böll Foundation-Nigeria, developed "Dignity in Shelter (DIS)", a scalable and flexible housing solution designed for vulnerable populations. The initiative focuses particularly on women affected by forced evictions, as well as residents of informal settlements and internally displaced persons (IDP) sites. The housing units are temporary and reusable yet durable enough to provide safe, stable shelter for many years.

 

DIS targets “waiting lands”, parcels of land awaiting formal development that are often controlled by informal actors. Through structured agreements with government authorities, these spaces can be transformed into dignified housing for those most in need. This approach helps break cycles of poverty and gender-based violence, while giving residents the time and security to rebuild their lives. When formal urban development begins, both residents and their modular homes can be relocated seamlessly, ensuring continuity and dignity throughout the process.