The GHI Blog: Evidence for Action

June 19, 2013

By Laura Aguilera: Consultant for Urban Development and Housing projects, Inter-American Development Bank

Recently, I watched a piece about the real estate bubble in China. I was struck by the amount of dwellings and cities that are currently empty, like a scene from a ghost town in an old western movie. China’s focus on urban development has not only focused on housing, but also the construction of entire cities (shopping malls, townhouses, office buildings, roads, and highways)—investments that have reached annual spending of about USD2 trillion (CBS). This made me wonder about some of the risks and benefits of investing heavily on housing as a way to spark economic growth in developing countries. | more

April 29, 2013

By Drew McCormick: Research Intern, Institute for Women’s Policy Research | more

February 13, 2013

By Julian Baskin: Senior Urban Specialist, Cities Alliance

Was it Africities or FrancoCities?:  | more

December 17, 2012

By Anne Myers: Government Relations and Advocacy Project Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity International

Last week, I joined more than 600 volunteers, including President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn for Habitat for Humanity International’s 29^th annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Haiti. There we built 100 homes with families affected by the devastating 2010 earthquake. We all saw, firsthand, that while much work remains to be done progress is being made. Although nearly 400,000 survivors remain homeless more than 1 million people have been resettled and construction has begun on several projects, including roads, schools and hospitals. | more

December 3, 2012

By György Sümeghy: Habitat for Humanity Hungary  | more

November 19, 2012

By Dan Petrie: Associate Director of Congressional Relations, Habitat for Humanity International

It seems most of the clever puns about World Toilet Day have been taken. Call of doodie? An inconvenient poop? Who gives a crap? | more

September 19, 2012

By Maria Luisa Zanelli: Advocacy and Partnership Outreach Manager, Habitat for Humanity International

“Building Shared Solutions for Inclusive Cities” is the central message of the Forum on Adequate Housing in Latin America and the Caribbean that will bring together different sectors and showcase innovative, practical and effective housing interventions from Sept. 25-28, 2012 in Bogota, Colombia.

Organized by Habitat for Humanity, the International Federation of the Red Cross, UN-Habitat and Minuto de Dios, the forum will cover four key themes--inclusive housing and the right to the city, finance models for adequate housing, adequate housing and disaster risk reduction, and building a sustainable habitat. | more

August 28, 2012

By Jane Katz: Director of International Affairs and Programs, Habitat for Humanity International | more

July 2, 2012

By Anjali Bean (Research and Policy Associate, International Housing Coalition*)

Gender equality in property rights is a critical human rights issue and a key driver of overall economic development.  Women have less access to shelter, income, water, food, education, and healthcare when compared to men, leading to what is often called the “feminization of poverty.” While women are increasingly heads of households, today women and girls make up 70 percent of the estimated 1.2 billion people living in absolute poverty, defined as living on less than $1 a day. In addition, women hold only an estimated 1-2 percent of all titled land in the developing world. | more

June 19, 2012

By Jonathan T.M. Reckford: CEO, Habitat for Humanity International  

With the launch of the Global Housing Indicators website, we at Habitat for Humanity are very excited that a holistic picture of worldwide housing policies is now available.  This one-stop portal for data, discussion, debate and dissemination changes how housing advocates, governments, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, practitioners, think tanks and others can assess the policy environment for adequate and affordable housing around the world. | more