Abstract:
Currently, Gondar cityis expanding at an increasingly rapid rate. The rapid horizontal growth of
the town has created the emergence of an unplanned corner in the town. This resulted for the
rapid proliferation of squatter settlements at the margin of the town. The purpose of this study
was to investigate the determinants of squatter settlement expansion in Gondar town (Maraki
sub-city). Mixed methodology composed of qualitative and quantitative was used in this study.
There are 3350 squatter household settlers in the study area. Among these households 290
households were selected as sample of the study.The combination of random and purposive
sampling method was used to select sample respondents. Data was collected from squatters and
government officials via standardized questionnaire, in-depth interview and FGD. The collected
data were analyzed via SPSS V.20 software. Quantitative data was analyzed by employing
descriptive statics such as percentage, frequency distribution table, and charts. After checking
the data collecting from the sample households, it was coded and fills into SPSS and Microsoft
excel. The data collected through qualitative tools was organized and presented in narrative
form after transcribed thematically. The result showed that, squatting has its own link with
demographic, socio-economic and administrative factors. Accordingly, in the study the
researcher identified main factors for squatting such as family size, marital status, headship
status, education, occupation, low income, weak administration coordination commitment and
interest,high house price, unemployment, and so on .However, land purchased from peasants,
speculators, inheritance as well as direct occupation contributed to the growth and emergence of
squatter settlements in the study area. In addition to this, the majority of squatter migrants were
internal migrants who migrate in search of better education, better employment, and marriage
as well profit motive. Thus, due to the poor urban land management, high private house rent,
low income level and poor controlling /intervention measure were, problems of squatting is
getting serious in the study area. Finally, the study shows that squatting is a bumming issue in
the study area, so concerned body should have prevent the future expansion in the study area.
