The Right to Housing - A Mission-Oriented and Human Rights-Based Approach

Overview of the Publication

The document “The Right to Housing – A Mission‑Oriented and Human Rights‑Based Approach” is a working paper published in 2023 by the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP). It is authored by Mariana Mazzucato, a professor of the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at UCL and co‑chair of the Council on Urban Initiatives, and Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing and Global Director of The Shift. The paper draws on expertise from a broad coalition of mayors, academics, and practitioners across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, reflecting a pan‑European and global perspective on housing policy.

Institutional Context and Goals

The paper positions the right to housing as both a legally binding human right and a strategic mission for governments. It argues that achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11.1 (adequate, safe, affordable housing for all by 2030) requires integrating human‑rights accountability with mission‑oriented policy design. The authors propose a framework that aligns legal obligations, bold public missions, and cross‑sector partnerships to reshape housing markets toward the common good.

Key Data on the Housing Crisis

• Over 1.8 billion people lack adequate housing worldwide.
• In 2022, 90 % of 200 studied cities were unaffordable, with average home prices more than three times median incomes.
• The global housing stock is valued at US 258.5 trillion, exceeding three times global GDP.
• Buildings account for roughly 36 % of global CO₂ emissions; housing‑related displacement affects 22 million people annually due to climate events.
• The paper estimates a financing need of $929 billion to upgrade inadequate urban housing for 881 million people.

Mission‑Oriented Policy Pillars

The authors outline six pillars for a right‑to‑housing mission:

1. Bold housing mission anchored in human‑rights principles.
2. Market‑shaping rather than market‑fixing, placing value creation at the centre.
3. Entrepreneurial state that coordinates whole‑government action.
4. Symbiotic public‑private‑third‑sector partnerships with shared risk‑reward structures.
5. Public‑value‑driven financing and taxation, including land‑value capture and taxes on vacant homes.
6. Robust monitoring and accountability, using independent bodies and human‑rights indicators.

Partnerships and Governance Models

Case studies illustrate successful partnerships: Barcelona’s public‑private housing entity (50 % public, 50 % private) delivering 4,500 affordable units; Vienna’s social‑housing system where 60 % of rentals are publicly owned, leading to a measurable rent‑dampening effect; Singapore’s land‑state model with 90 % state‑owned land enabling strategic market control. These examples demonstrate how coordinated governance can align market incentives with affordability and sustainability goals.

Financing Strategies for Sustainable Housing

The paper stresses outcome‑oriented public finance, such as patient capital, long‑term low‑interest loans, and conditional subsidies tied to affordability, energy efficiency, and human‑rights compliance. It recommends leveraging tax tools—land‑value capture, taxes on second homes, and vacancy levies—to redirect private gains toward public housing missions. Public‑value‑driven financing is presented as essential because market‑only solutions have proven insufficient to meet the scale of need.

Monitoring, Accountability, and Human‑Rights Indicators

To ensure progress, the authors call for independent monitoring bodies equipped to assess compliance with eight housing‑adequacy characteristics (affordability, habitability, location, accessibility, cultural adequacy, sustainability, security of tenure, and service availability). Transparent data collection, public reporting, and legal remedies for rights violations are highlighted as core mechanisms for accountability.

Implications for a Pan‑European Audience

For European policymakers, the paper offers a roadmap to integrate EU housing directives, the New Urban Agenda, and SDG targets into a cohesive mission‑oriented strategy. It underscores the need for EU‑level coordination on land‑value capture, climate‑aligned building standards, and cross‑border financing mechanisms. By aligning human‑rights obligations with ambitious public missions, European cities can address affordability pressures while meeting climate commitments, fostering inclusive, resilient urban futures.