UN-Habitat warns global housing crisis is reaching alarming scale

The global housing crisis is growing to alarming levels, said Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anacláudia Rossbach at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

According to Report, she made the remarks during a session of the MINURVI forum, which brings together housing and urban development ministers and senior officials from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Rossbach noted that climate risks are increasing and urban inequality is widening, although she emphasized that the region is not starting from zero and has valuable experience in addressing housing challenges through innovation.

She stressed that the 2026–2029 period will be critical for housing policy, arguing that housing should not be treated as a standalone sector.

"Housing is everything," she said, highlighting its links with climate action, economic recovery, and social stability.

She added that while many pilot projects and successful programs exist, they are not yet reaching enough people at scale, underscoring the need for broader implementation and impact.