What's it like to live in fear of your house being torn down? What if your government did nothing to help you find a new home? That's the reality for hundreds of millions who live in the squatter settlements of the world's burgeoning cities.

This week, Earth Report goes back to the streets to meet the people and communities who are coming together to secure their homes.

Facing the Threat, Cochambamba, Bolivia:

On the outskirts of Cochambamba - Bolivia's fourth largest city - the small community of Molle Molle takes a twice-daily roll call. They do this to ensure that developers cannot forcibly take the land they have built their homes on.

Whilst labelled 'illegal' the residents of Molle Molle are excluded from essential basic services like water and electricity. They're also at risk from disease. In settlements like this, Chagas disease - a parasitic infection spread by insects - is rife. But, by working together, the residents hope to secure their land. Once this is done they can apply to have basic services installed and the NGO, Pro Habitat, will help improve their homes.

Culture not Congestion, Bangkok, Thailand:

Nestled between high-rise blocks and highways, the Ban Krua community is a world apart from Bangkok's relentless drive for modernisation. But even this centuries old community is now at risk from a road-building scheme.

The people of Ban Krua have lived here for 300 years on land granted to them by the King for their efforts in repelling a foreign invader. Developers want to relocate this community and build an expressway on this land - a scheme the residents have been fighting for thirteen years.

A series of gates, built across the entrances to Ban Krua, prevent the Expressway Authority from entering the community and surveying the land, whilst loud speakers announce news and warn residents about 'unfriendly' visitors.

Two public hearings have decided in favour of the Ban Krua community, agreeing that its destruction would be a terrible price to pay for a freeway that would do little to solve the city's appalling traffic congestion. And, although the Expressway Authority has requested a third public hearing, the residents are confident that, united, they can protect their homes and way-of-life.

Another Way, Harare, Zimbabwe:

In 1993 Chipo Mutumbu was forcibly moved from her farm by the Zimbabwean government. Along with 4,000 other people, Chipo was moved to a 'holding' camp. Although the evictees were promised new homes within months, most are still homeless seven years on.

During this time, Chipo joined the Zimbabwe Homeless Peoples Federation which works with 'Dialogue on Shelter' to help people find solutions for themselves.

The federation now has 28 savings schemes with 4,000 members throughout Zimbabwe. Together they have over US$10,000 in the bank. They've set up information centres in 7 squatter settlements where they hold meetings and training programmes.

With the help of these organisations and their micro-loan schemes, Chipo has been able to build her own home.

On the Right Track, Mumbai, India:

With over half of Mumbai's 12 million population living in inadequate housing on less than 8% of the land the need for a large scale solution was urgent. SPARC, the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres, NSDF, the National Slum Dwellers Federation and Mahila Milan has been working with grassroots communities to show that they hold the key to such solutions.

In one of the poorest parts of Mumbai more than 32,000 households live within fifty feet of a railway track. After discussions with the railway authority concerning relocation, the residents formed the Railway Slum Dwellers Federation to represent the views of the community.

But in March 2000 a breach of trust led to the demolition of over 3000 houses. The homeless coalition immediately began talks with the local government and found new accommodation for 2000 families.

By March 2001 over 13,000 families had relocated away from the tracks, creating history about partnership and government. By working together, these homelessness groups and the government have come up with a series of positive solutions - so much so that other slum dweller federations have urged their governments to visit Mumbai to see for themselves how working with the poor can achieve results.