The right to housing A mission-oriented and human rights-based approach

The document titled "The right to housing: A mission-oriented and human rights-based approach" is published by the Council on Urban Initiatives, an organization focused on urban development and sustainability. Authored by a collective of experts, the paper addresses the pressing issue of housing as a fundamental human right and proposes a comprehensive framework to ensure adequate housing for all.

Housing is recognized as a fundamental human right, essential for overall well-being and the foundation of other rights such as health, education, and security. The United Nations emphasizes that the right to adequate housing should be understood broadly, encompassing the right to live in peace and dignity. However, the current reality shows a significant gap in achieving this right, with over a billion people worldwide lacking adequate housing and essential services.

Globally, housing affordability is declining, particularly for low and middle-income populations. Housing costs are rising faster than incomes, leading to widespread evictions in both the Global South and North. The housing market has increasingly been dominated by profit-driven entities, treating homes as financial assets rather than places to live. This has been exacerbated by a decrease in public housing provision and deregulation of housing finance, resulting in skyrocketing rents in urban areas.

The challenges of the housing crisis are compounded by climate change. Buildings account for approximately 36% of global CO2 emissions, and climate-related events displace around 22 million people annually. Many of these displaced individuals migrate to cities where housing is often unaffordable, forcing them into informal settlements. Urban areas, where over half of the world's population resides, are critical hotspots for these challenges, representing 80% of global GDP.

The paper advocates for a new framework that combines a mission-oriented approach to policy design with a human rights-based paradigm. This integrated strategy aims to create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities. It emphasizes the need for governments to undertake bold missions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.1, which aims to ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all.

To effectively address the housing crisis, a paradigm shift is necessary across all levels of government. This entails setting ambitious missions, reshaping markets, and redesigning policies to align with the right to housing. Such actions will create the legal accountability needed to ensure that housing becomes a reality for everyone, fostering human flourishing and addressing the grand challenges of our time.