As a result of this industrialization an army of employers needs to live in the direct surroundings of the city. But the housing facilities aren't that good. More than hundred thousand of people need to live in the slums that arise like mushrooms all over the city and where everybody has to struggle for a little bit of comfort. At this moment 75 percent of the people in Bombay lives in "chawls" (apartments with one room, originally build for workers at the cottonindustrie). 15 percent lives in the slum en at least 2 percent of the population is permanently living on the streets.

Bombay has at least 150 slums spread all over the industrial parts of the city and there is no sewer. Goats and rats are sniffing for food all over the place, you will find everywhere carbage, because there are no dustmen to make collect the rubbish. The people in the slums have a very low income, but they are better off as the people who have to live out on the street. The people on the street can mostly find work and should be able to pay for the rent, but because there are no houses enough this remains a problem. For those whitout an income begging is a normal way of living in this city.