Housing shortages were previously considered a problem of developing countries but have now become a global crisis.
The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) said that population growth and many people migrating to cities in search of better opportunities lead to an increasingly tense urban housing shortage. straight.
More than half of the world’s population lives in cities and towns. The population size in this area will increase by 70% by 2050. According to this organization, more than one billion people globally live in urban slums and this number will increase 3 times by 2050.
At the meeting held from June 6-9 in Kenya, Maimunah Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said that most countries are struggling to help citizens access affordable housing. affordable. “Globally, 1.6 billion people continue to live in deprived places. We must act now to create a better urban future,” she said.
According to some research data, previously, housing shortage was considered a problem of developing countries but has now become a global crisis. By 2025, 1.6 billion people are expected to be affected by housing shortages, according to the World Bank. Rich countries like the US, UK and Germany all face this situation.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), says housing costs have risen faster than incomes and inflation in many member countries in recent years. The International Monetary Fund also estimates that housing costs are increasing faster than income in most countries around the world.
In a study of 200 cities globally, 90% of them had an average house price more than three times the average income. Financial research company Moody’s Analytics said that the US alone is lacking 1.5 million homes. The country has less housing for sale or rent than at any time in the past 30 years.
UN-Habitat says the world needs to build 96,000 new affordable homes every day to house about 3 billion people by 2030. Some countries are already looking to take action.
Japan has been very successful in providing affordable housing, even in large cities, according to the Center for Cities (UK). The country’s secret is simple zoning laws and favorable property taxes.
In the US, the government pledged to end the shortage of housing supply within 5 years. Plans include loosening state land use laws and regulations and limiting housing density. Meanwhile, in Scotland, the government plans to increase housing supply by 2040 through funding mechanisms for the construction of affordable homes.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who came to power last year, has made affordable housing a centerpiece of his government’s development agenda and announced plans to build 250,000 homes annually for the wealthy. low income.
India has a new construction solution, using low-cost, prefabricated panels made from waste materials to cut housing construction costs. Other initiatives include the development of 3D printed homes in Africa, Mexico, India, Europe and other regions. Experts say 3D printing can create high-quality homes much faster and cheaper than traditional construction.
