Celebrate World Habitat Day

1 in 4 people around the world are living in inadequate housing.

That is 1 in 4 people without a safe place to live. 1 in 4 people less likely to be healthy or educated. 1 in 4 people less likely to be able to take advantage of employment opportunities to pull them out of poverty.

If this trend continues, almost 40 percent of the world’s population will live in substandard housing by 2030.

On Monday, October 2, we’re challenging you to join us in changing this reality by participating in World Habitat Day.

Declared by the United Nations General Assembly more than 30 years ago, World Habitat Day promotes adequate housing as a basic human right. That every one of us deserves the opportunity for a better future, and that a decent place to live can remove barriers to opportunity, health, and security.

This year, your voice needs to heard. Sign Habitat's petition calling on stakeholder to advance the New Urban Agenda. This agenda prioritizes adequate and affordable housing, secure land tenure, and community-led development to foster sustainable cities where everyone has a decent place to live. 

In 2015, 193 countries came together in agreement on 17 goals to guide global development at all levels through 2030. At Habitat, we especially support Sustainable Development Goal 11. Recognizing the impact of rapid, global urbanization, Goal 11 calls on governments to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” and includes a target to ensure access to adequate, safe and affordable housing for all by 2030. Then, last October at the Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, world leaders finalized a second global strategy, the New Urban Agenda, which expands on this vision and includes more detailed commitments by national governments. Together, these frameworks are a collective blueprint for policymakers, donors and advocates alike, outlining the broad contours for sustainable urban development for decades to come.

While commitments regarding housing, land and community-led development should be applauded, they are also voluntary, and their implementation is not guaranteed. The New Urban Agenda is highly ambitious, and creating sustainable cities will not happen overnight. It will take partnership and mutual accountability, political will and a sense of urgency. With your support, we will ensure governments are held accountable to these commitments and live up to the ambition of the New Urban Agenda.

Take action today and sign the petition.