1.8 billion people live without safe housing, the UN says that’s a human rights crisis

More than 1.8 billion people live in informal settlements or other forms of inadequate housing, often without reliable access to water, sanitation or electricity and under the constant threat of forced eviction, according to the United Nations.

The UN maintains that housing is first and foremost a basic human right, even as it is increasingly viewed as an investment asset. The right to adequate housing means more than having a roof over one’s head — it includes security of tenure, protection from forced eviction or dispossession, access to basic services and infrastructure, and the ability to live close to schools, employment and healthcare in a manner consistent with one’s culture and dignity.

The financialisation of housing, where homes become vehicles for investment and wealth creation rather than a social good, has transformed housing markets across the world. Combined with climate change, natural disasters, armed conflict and large-scale infrastructure and development projects, these pressures have displaced millions and made cities increasingly unaffordable. Women, minorities, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees and other marginalised groups continue to face discrimination in accessing adequate housing.

Homelessness, considered one of the gravest violations of the right to adequate housing, has also been rising in many developed economies. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these vulnerabilities, leaving millions unable to pay rent or mortgages. The UN says realising this right depends on governments adopting appropriate laws, policies and national housing strategies.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by JanShu