By Aderemi Oludayo Adelekan
Housing is universally recognized and acknowledged as a fundamental human need, as well as a right. The cornerstone of human dignity, peace, security and well-being, a basis of stability for an individual or family, housing plays a critical role in enhancing, and in protecting cultural identities. It guarantees access to essential services, all of which are vital for a healthy and fulfilling life. Above all, stable and affordable housing provides a stable workforce, enables productivity and development, fueling and driving progress and development.
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the agency mandated to promote adequate shelter for all, socially and environmentally sustainable urbanization, development of inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities, in a statement urged communities and governments to recognize rights to housing, and take critical steps towards ensuring housing for all, as this would foster a more harmonious and equitable society.
Responding to the call, the European Commission plans to invest 153 billion pounds per year to build more than two million homes each year, in a bold move to meet the demand for affordable, sustainable, and quality housing in Europe. The Commission’s strategic objective is to strengthen the housing construction sector’s competitiveness, productivity and innovation.
