What is another name for informal settlements with poor-quality housing?

The term "Shanty towns" refers to informal settlements characterized by inadequate and substandard housing, typically built hastily without proper planning or services. They emerge in urban areas where rapid population growth outstrips the availability of affordable housing, often due to urban migration driven by factors such as economic opportunity and conflicts.

While "Slums" is also a term frequently used to describe these types of dwellings, shanty towns specifically highlight the manner in which these structures are constructed, often from discarded materials. "Favelas" is a term primarily used in Brazil to denote a specific type of informal settlement, which may not encompass the broader global context. Similarly, "Cage homes" refers to a distinct and specific form of vertical housing often found in Hong Kong, which may not apply universally to informal settlements globally.