The Shift – Shifting the way we view housing and home

It is only by reclaiming and realizing the right to housing that we can fully implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11.1. The Shift is the global movement to do exactly that.

It seeks to change the way we view housing and encourage the recognition of housing as a human right in order to realize the New Urban Agenda and Goal 11.1. Initiated by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, alongside the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and United Cities, Local Governments, The Shift is creating a forum for the development of participatory housing strategies and programmes with the opportunity for all stakeholders to engage, share resources, develop new partnerships and gather support. Central to both the New Urban Agenda and Goal 11.1, the Shift looks to facilitate cooperation and coordination between all levels of government, civil society and other stakeholders. From employment, to social assistance, architecture, city planning, financial institutions and more, The Shift connects various sectors around the housing discussion to develop sustainable and effective rights-housing strategies that realize the New Urban Agenda, Goal 11.1 and the human right to adequate housing. To develop these human rights-based housing strategies, it is crucial to replace capital investment that treats housing solely as a commodity with sustainable investment that creates inclusive cities and prioritizes housing as a social good. The Shift event will call on participants at WUF ’17 to come together and think creatively about how to implement the right to housing within every level of governance; to hold governments accountable to their SDG commitment to end homelessness by 2030; and to create inclusive communities that are resilient in the face of pressures created by rapid urbanization and rampant financialization.