The problems of poverty in the Central Asia region are many and diverse, but often hidden. Across the region, single-room flats frequently are shared by multiple families. There are more than 3,000 such flats in Kazakhstan alone . High interest rates and inflation push bank loan payments far out of reach for many families.
 | Standing water increases the probabilities of disease and irritation from breeding mosquitoes. |
 | Old, deteriorating insulation fails to keep the house warm during cold winters, leading to illness, higher energy costs and a greater financial strain on the residents. |
 | On winter evenings when the sun sets early, parents must decide between reducing the utility bill by turning off lights or allowing their children to study. |
 | Even houses that do not look substandard on the outside can be cramped and insufficient for the number of people living inside. A family of five has lived in this two-room house for six years. |
 | The family living in this house uses this basin to fetch and heat water for washing. However, there is so little space inside that they must store it outdoors, where it is more likely to be stolen or deteriorate in bad weather. |
