DHAKA, BANGLADESH (03/19/2023) - Duaripara informal settlement in Dhaka. Sumi Hasan, 35, poses for a portrait after a rain storm in Duaripara informal settlement.  © Habitat for Humanity International/Raymond McCrea Jones

Home Equals

New global advocacy campaign to ensure equitable access to adequate homes for informal settlement residents

Housing is an infrastructure for well-being and sustainability. Equitable access to adequate housing can:

  • generate a direct impact of as much as 10.5% economic growth.
  • prevent more than 730,000 deaths globally per year.
  • increase expected years of schooling by as much as 28%.

Using a unique modeling methodology, a first-of-its kind report by Habitat for Humanity and its research partner the International Institute for Environment and Development found that improving housing in informal settlements in Asia-Pacific countries could result in:

  • an increase in GDP of up to 7.25% in countries such as Bangladesh, by as much as 3.3% in countries such as Fiji, and up to 10.5% in countries such as Myanmar;
  • an increase in life expectancy rate of up to 1.7% in countries such as Cambodia and Nepal, and as much as 1.2% in countries such as Thailand; and
  • up to a one-year increase in the mean years of schooling for countries such as India and Indonesia, and 1.35 years in countries such as the Philippines. 

 

Home Equals

Sign our pledge and support the 1 billion people living in informal settlements.

Participant at Phil Urban Dialogue

Asia-Pacific Urban Dialogues

Learn more about policy solutions for adequate housing in informal settlements from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia.

  • Sumi walking with other residents of Duaripara informal settlement

    Through the Home Equals campaign, Habitat for Humanity seeks to support community participation and innovative solutions from informal settlement residents such as Sumi from Bangladesh.

  • Home Equals campaign EMEA

    More than 1 billion people around the world live in slums and other informal settlements, and that figure continues to rise. Informal settlements have very limited access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation and electricity. The poor living conditions are a physical manifestation of inequities holding back far too many families and communities.

Home Equals Launch Report

Home Equals research report

Improving informal settlements can increase a country’s economic development, income, health and education outcomes, as shown in the in-depth, data-driven report released by Habitat for Humanity and our research partner, the International Institute for Environment and Development.