The Shift is an international initiative focused on safeguarding the human right to housing, emphasizing that housing should be treated as a social good rather than a commodity. Established in 2017, it was launched by Leilani Farha, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, in collaboration with United Cities and Local Governments and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Farha remains the Global Director, with a team comprising lawyers, campaigners, advocates, researchers, and filmmakers. The organisation’s network spans all continents, connecting city authorities, legislators, advocacy groups, scholars, and grassroots organisations.
The Shift’s core activities include producing guidance for governments and investors such as the Investor Guidelines for human rights-based investment, and The Shift Directives framework, introduced at the European Parliament in 2022, which targets the financialization of housing. The group also explores intersections between housing and climate change through policy development and public advocacy.
Their work is informed by on-the-ground research and global advocacy, supporting policies designed to prevent housing from being exploited for profit at the expense of community well-being and environmental sustainability. Farha's leadership in developing global housing standards—covering areas such as homelessness, informal settlements, and the implementation of rights-based housing strategies—anchors the organisation’s expertise. The Shift is widely recognized both for convening diverse stakeholders and for influencing international policy debates related to housing rights. Its operations are coordinated virtually, enabling a presence that is described as “Everywhere, Global.”