The next stage in a study would be identifying urban locations containing undeveloped or underdeveloped land that could be integrated into existing or future public transportation systems, optimally already containing some informal housing where existing residents would form an initial support network for new migrants. Impoverished migrants with access to at least some form of transportation have a much higher rate of survival, as they can reach medical services, have a wider area to find employment, and have more control over their life choices (Abraham, 1993). The next stage would be surveying a sample of residents of cities where the zoning plans would be used, asking questions about locations and levels of service, and making sure to point out environmental and ethical appeals to preemptively integrating growing informal housing communities in their city. Overcoming NIMBY opposition may be possible with a strong enough argument, particularly if it is made clear that informal housing is inevitable, and without guidance the outcomes could be much more damaging to the existing residents. Informal settlements often form along rivers, in environmentally sensitive areas, or in toxic dump sites. Rivers are contaminated, wildlife is damaged, and people are exposed to toxins that result in tragic consequences (Davis, 2013). Finally, implementation of of the project would combine the previous stages to define locations where impoverished migrants might find a livelihood that is least detrimental to their wellbeing. The optimal outcome would be providing a safe stepping stone for migrants to find the resources they need to enter the workforce and develop the economic means to find better housing, but realistically, as immigrants outpace job availability, some migrants will not find employment and will stay in informal housing indefinitely. This inevitability only reinforces the need for good planning and forward-thinking by government agencies to provide services and housing of a quality sufficient to be permanent. Informal settlements are the way of the future, and there is much evidence to support their inevitable expansion in the United States (Davis, 2013). As populations continue to expand and migrants move in without strong enough job skills to displace existing workers, they will find fewer and fewer opportunities for employment, leading to a larger and larger population of impoverished migrants. Without planning, the impoverished migrants may encroach on endangered habitats, expose themselves to dangerous locations, and damage property, leading to hostility. A stronger focus on the part of all levels of government is required to avoid the looming negative externalities can only be avoided with forward-thinking planning that keeps pace with needs.
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