Housing lies at the intersection of economic development, social inclusion and climate resilience. How we address housing today will shape the trajectory of urbanisation for decades to come. Across the world, the crises we face—climatic, socio-economic and geopolitical—are deeply interconnected and require systemic responses that must begin at the local level.

According to UN-Habitat, between 1.6 and 3.4 billion people lack access to adequate housing, including over 1.1 billion in informal settlements. At the same time housing affordability pressures are increasing across income levels and regions, with nearly half of households globally being cost-burdened.