Foreword by Ian Thompson, Editor
The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the leading global conference on sustainable urbanization. Its twelfth session took place last week (November 4 – 8, 2024) in Cairo, Egypt.
This recorded session, featuring the speakers listed below, discusses the extraordinary challenges of housing the unhoused.
While there is ample room for debate on how to tackle these issues, this session highlighted the numerous opportunities we have as a collective to change our design, building, and supply practices. It encourages us to think differently about creating a more sustainable, healthy, and affordable housing future for all.
WUF12 Speakers:
Sonthaya Boonpusit, Inspector General, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Community Organization Development Institute (CODI), Thailand
Eleni Giokos, TV presenter and journalist, CNN
Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Habitat
Sherief Elsherbini, Minister of Housing, Ministry of Housing, Egypt
David Harvey, Professor, Graduate Center of the City University of New York
Thierry Fournier, CEO, Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa Region, Saint-Gobain
Athman Said, Housing Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Kenya
Audrey Guiral-Naepels, Urban and Housing Director, French Development Agency (AFD)
Sameh Wahba, Regional Director of Sustainable Development, Europe & Central Asia, World Bank
Marie-Josée Houle, Advocate, Canada federal housing
Evaniza Rodrigues, Expert, National Union for Popular Housing, Brazil
Tasneem Motara, Member of the Executive Council responsible for Human Settlements, Gauteng Province, South Africa
Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, UN
Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity
Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, China
World Urban Forum – Housing Our Future: Introduction
Last week, at the World Urban Forum, this recorded session took place focusing on the crucial role of housing in fostering a just and inclusive society. The event highlighted that housing is far more than just four walls and a roof; it is a cornerstone of dignity, health, safety, and overall well-being for families and communities worldwide. However, many still face significant barriers to accessing adequate housing.
During the session, participants delved into the meaning of adequate housing, discussed the obstacles that hinder access, and explored successful solutions that have been implemented globally. The dialogue was aided by contributions from international experts, national practitioners, activists, and influential thinkers who analyzed the complexities of the housing crisis and shared perceived cutting-edge solutions. They underscored how housing is central to a “renewed social contract” by advocating for diverse housing production models and strategies.
The discussion also addressed the dynamics driving the housing crisis, including the commodification of housing and the over-reliance on limited solutions, which contribute to escalating costs and structural weaknesses—challenges exacerbated by the climate crisis. Attendees were engaged in conversations about improving housing provision while prioritizing inclusivity and diversity of strategies, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration, government stewardship, and equitable financing.
Key questions guided the session, such as identifying effective innovations, policy reforms, and structural interventions that mitigate housing inadequacies and offer models for global replication. The dialogue explored how public, private, and collective strategies can be combined to ensure housing for all, and how these efforts can lead to a renewed social contract rooted in human rights, inclusivity, and justice.
Many participants left with a deeper understanding of the barriers to dignified and affordable housing, and the importance of localized solutions, partnerships, and sustainable housing provision. The session reinforced the urgent need to address inadequate housing, which impacts up to 2.8 billion people globally, including those living in slums and informal settlements, as well as the homeless population.
The event’s key messages resonated with attendees, emphasizing that housing is a right, and not a commodity, and addressing the housing crisis is essential for strengthening social trust and justice. The speakers highlighted that their opinions that the complexity of the crisis requires locally based, inclusive solutions, aligning with the belief that it all starts now, together, and locally.
Related
Dialogue 1 – Housing Our Future – World Urban Forum
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