UN-Habitat representative outlines key housing provision challenges

Although more than 70% of global GDP is generated by cities, they also create risks, stated Haesung Ahn, Project Management Specialist at the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), at the event "From Policy to Impact: Scaling Up Housing Provision" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Report informs.

According to him, cities generate more than 70% of GDP worldwide: "However, they also create significant demand and risks. So, what are the main challenges in housing provision? Although housing is the most fundamental right and basic need, we face many problems in this area. For example, your home being built very far from your workplace, or affordable housing projects being completely inaccessible, or sometimes the emergence of informal settlements that grow faster than the planning system can respond to. These are the main problems, and that is precisely why housing issues are one of the most important topics on national or city agendas."

He added that this is why the National Urban Policy (NUP) is extremely important: "Because the NUP provides a coordinating framework that helps translate housing targets into real outcomes. The key message from this is that successful housing outcomes depend on how well the NUP can align partners and investments. The three biggest housing problems identified are: inadequate location of housing, rigid restrictions on land use, and the insufficiency of social housing. Also, among many countries that address housing problems in their urban policies, great attention is paid to the topics of sustainability, adequacy, and financial affordability. In fact, these issues are effectively reflected in the National Urban Policies of specific countries."