More than one billion people live in informal settlements, while more than 300 million people are homeless across the Global South and North.
In Africa, 62 percent of urban housing is informal. In the Asia-Pacific region, more than 500 million people lack access to basic water services and more than one billion live without adequate sanitation.
In a video message in support of an upcoming conference, Mr. Gere highlighted the urgency of global action. “Without a safe home there is no health, no education, no stable employment,” he stated.
Homelessness goes far beyond homelessness. It often results in the denial of fundamental rights, including safety, healthcare, privacy and human dignity.
Next forum
The issue will take center stage at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WU13), the United Nations’ premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Held under the theme “Housing in the world: safe and resilient cities and communities”, the conference will bring together governments, civil society organizations, urban planners, private sector leaders and youth representatives to discuss solutions to the growing housing crisis.
The Gere Foundation, HOGAR SÍ, a Spanish organization focused on housing issues, and UN-Habitat are coming together to focus on how to ensure that all people have access to adequate housing.
Homelessness is rooted in society’s inability to care for its citizens, and addressing the crisis will require long-term political commitment, stronger social protection systems, and public policies focused on housing, advocates say.
“Homelessness is not inevitable. It is a profound injustice that we can solve when we choose dignity, housing and human connection,” Gere said.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said the collaboration highlights the need for global cooperation to address urban challenges.