I would like to know:

*The number of people living in inadequate housing (or homeless) in Cairo, Egypt.
*What NGOs, private builders, and government agencies service that population.
*What approaches NGOs, private builders, and government agencies use to
combat poverty housing. (i.e. multifamily housing, reduced/free/shared
housing, infrastructure development, slum upgrading)

Source documents/URLs would be appreciated. I'm more interested in
what other NGOs/private builders/government agencies are doing,
specifically what type of building or practices they are using, than
an exhaustive list of NGOs/builders/agencies. This is research for a
housing non-profit organization.

The national poverty rate in Egypt in 2000 was 22.9%
Percent of population living on less than $1 a day in year 2000 was 3.1%
Percent of population living on less than $2 a day in year 2000 was 52.7%

The poverty measures provided are based on surveys conducted mostly
between 1990 and 2000, prepared by Internationally Recognized
Organizations.

Due to severe rules, laws and regulations some international housing
organizations failed to acquire any rights or approvals from the
Egyptians Government to start their operations. I've been personally
involved in such project with an International Law-Cost Housing Firm
[whose plans where to provide law-cost family housing of 4 members @
$5,000 for 180 cm2] but in the end and after fighting as hard as we
can?the project was not approved.

No NGO's are participating effectively in such dilemma in Egypt due to
high costs of building materials [i.e. cement steel-bars...etc] and
the firm policy & regulations to act in accordance with precise
construction standards that ofcourse costs too much to be affordable
by low-income/homeless populations.

The average apartment cost [i.e. 150 cm2] would vary according to the
districts and location but here are actual numbers in some locations:

City: Cairo ? District: New Cairo ? Cost: L.E 160,000 / $27,500
City: Cairo ? District: Nasr City ? Cost: L.E 170,000 / $30,000
City: Cairo ? District: Masr El Gedidda ? Cost: L.E 220,000 / $38,000
City: Cairo ? District: Mohandesine ? Cost: L.E 350,000 / $60,000

Let me know if you need anything else..

In 2003, the Egyptian Minister of Housing and Population declared that
88 percent of Egyptians live in housing that is in violation of
building codes.  Of these 65 million people, 20 million live in what
is called poverty housing. Poverty housing in Egypt generally includes
an inadequate latrine/toilet if there is one at all, the cohabitation
of livestock and animals with the mixed-sex family members (the whole
family in one room with the animals), and the constant fear of the
collapse of mud-brick walls and ceilings made of agricultural
gleanings (like palm branches and dried sugar canes).
Habitat for Humanity Egypt is the largest NGO working solely to
address this issue in Egypt. Since its inception in Egypt in 1990,
Habitat for Humanity has built 6,000 homes in 14 different
communities. CEOSS - The Coptic Evangelical Organization For Social
Services is the largest development NGO in Egypt. They initially
served as the umbrella organization for Habitat for Humanity as part
of their larger, comprehensive community development efforts. CEOSS
still does some poverty housing services (like provide grants and
loans for latrines, modifications for disabled members of the
household, and emergency repairs). However, funds are more limited
with CEOSS than with Habitat for Humanity for poverty housing. There
are some other organizations funding this work in Egypt like the
Canadian Embassy and the Lion's Club. Implementation of those funds
typically goes to the a local community development organization or to
larger social service organizations like CEOSS. There are other
private and government organizations that are working on this issue
that I am simply less informed about. Check also USAID-Egypt; they're
the largest int'l development group here. They may have programs going
too.
The most common approaches for implementing this kind of work is
through microloans. Habitat for Humanity uses in-kind contributions
where the recipients go to the merchants, select the products they
need, then the implementing organization pays the merchants. They have
also used methods where the implementing organization will buy the
products and deliver them to the home-owner. The recipients repay the
implementing organization on a set schedule with adjustments for
inflation. CEOSS uses a similar method. Although CEOSS typically makes
smaller loans and does charge a small amount of interest.
CEOSS and Habitat for Humanity have completed the building and
renovations of homes in areas as poor as Manchiat Nasser (a garbage
collecting community) and Dar Al Salaam in Cairo. Their work is
extensive in rural areas as well.
Start with their websites: 
www.ceoss.org.eg
and
http://www.habitat.org/eca/build/ame/61.aspx
The building practices tend to work to replace mud-brick with stone
(limestone and other types) bricks, agricultural ceilings with wooden
or concrete ceilings, and tearing down an old house, establishing a
foundation for multiple-storied homes, and slowly building upwards. In
the rural areas, family focus on building up their homes and leaving
an old section for the animals. The difficulties with latrines comes
from a high water table in highly irrigated areas - simply digging a
deep hole doesn't work. Establishing septic fields is vital. In urban
areas there is a cost involved in getting set up with the state's
services like running water and solid waste.
Hope that helps. Good luck on the research.

Thank you for the quick comments, marteny and groovykuz--you have both
been very helpful. Marteny, when you indicated the average apartment
is 150cm2, are you saying that the average apartment size is 150
square centimeters? Groovykuz, it sounds like Habitat is doing some
good work with new construction, and it sounds like they are using a
"building in stages" model, starting with a good foundation and
allowing the family to add additional stories to the house as needed.
Would that be accurate? Also, you indicate that families often live
with animals in the same dwelling...is room for the animals/farming
included in new construction?  Again, I sincerely appreciate your
help!