on the Cape Flats simmers after a fire (Cape Town, South Africa)]], Mexico.]], Haiti, 2002]] 2007]] Shanty towns (also called squatter camps, barrios, or favelas) are illegal or unauthorized settlements of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap plywood, corrugated metal, and sheets of plastic. Shanty towns, which are usually built on the periphery of cities, often do not have proper sanitation, electricity, or telephone services. Shanty towns are mostly found in developing nations, or partially developed nations with an unequal distribution of wealth. In extreme cases, shanty towns have populations approaching that of a city. Origins Shanty towns tend to develop on the outskirts of cities. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, shanty towns, often called "Hobo jungles," appeared in cities across North America because of massive unemployment. Some were nicknamed "Hoovervilles" because the res

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