Statement by Anacláudia Rossbach UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive-Director, UN-Habitat
Islamabad – 6 October 2026 (Adnan Hameed) : Housing is where much of life begins. It is where children grow up, where families find security, and where people build their livelihoods and their futures. Yet for billions of people, a home that is safe, affordable and connected to basic services remains out of reach.
Nearly 3.4 billion people lack adequate housing. More than one billion live in informal settlements and slums. And for many more, housing costs are taking an ever-larger share of their income.
This is not only a housing crisis. It is a challenge to our cities, our economies and our efforts to reduce inequality. Adequate housing gives people a foundation from which they can participate in society and the economy. It can help children learn, families stay healthy, and communities withstand shocks. That is why housing must be treated as a public priority, alongside land and basic services.
We have seen that progress is possible. But the scale of the challenge requires us to do more, and to do it differently: by putting people at the centre of housing policies, investing in communities and working across levels of government and with the private sector and civil society. Adequate housing is not a luxury. It is a foundation for a dignified life – and for sustainable cities.
On World Habitat Day, this is the future we should be building: adequate housing for all.
