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From Gaza to Romania: A story of strength and hope

“We were waiting for death,” says Asma, a 23-year-old nursing school graduate and the daughter of Khaled and Daniela. Reflecting on the past month in Gaza, she recounts the experiences of her family. Her father, a 60-year-old mechanical engineer, and her mother, a 54-year-old born and raised in Brașov, Romania, were part of the first group of evacuees from the Gaza Strip to arrive in Romania on November 8. Their large, close-knit family of 13 includes their 6-month-old granddaughter Hanan, whose name means compassion and affection.

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What is energy poverty?

Energy powers communities. Healthcare workers and teachers depend on energy to heal and educate their communities. Energy keeps homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

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Build better lives

On the 29th August 2023, ahead of the second EPBD trilogue under the Spanish Council Presidency, 67 civil society organisations, social, health and environmental NGOs, trade unions and youth movements across Europe have signed onto a joint statement calling on their elected representatives to deliver an ambitious and socially just EU Buildings Directive (EPBD) before the end of the year.

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Water is life

In Zambia, many families are challenged every day to survive. Mathabo Makuta, national director of Habitat for Humanity Zambia, discusses problems with access to clean water and water borne diseases.  

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Building Solid Ground

Habitat’s Compendium of Best Practices for Housing in Africa, produced by the EU-funded Build Solid Ground project, documents positive stories of change in the areas of adequate and affordable housing, including basic services, land tenure and slum upgrading.

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Does the right to housing exist?

Episode 1 welcomes listeners to the world of housing. Architect Esben Neander Kristensen, Director at Gehl, explains the difference between home and housing, discusses the right to housing, and provides insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic changed our perception of home. This episode opens the first season of Home Sapiens. 

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Habitat CEO: Coronavirus pandemic calls for a world where we care for each other

In recent days and weeks, a wave of closures, cancellations and postponements has unfurled as the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged. Those decisions — taken individually, totaled in the aggregate — have been stunning acts of solidarity, expressions of concern and collective responsibility for the health and well-being of our communities and our neighbors.

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Sharing our expertise at the UN’s 10th World Urban Forum

With countries around the world continuing to face rapid and large-scale urbanization, Habitat for Humanity is honoured to once again share its insights with global leaders on how to ensure cities and human settlements grow in ways that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

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Global Education Toolkit

Our Global Education Toolkit is an online educational resource that shares knowledge and practical educational tools on housing, land rights and sustainable urban development. Find out more.

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How a Common Material Is Quietly Changing Construction in India

India’s rivers are paying the price for its construction boom, with illegal sand mining deepening riverbeds and worsening floods. But a quiet revolution is underway—driven by M-sand, a sustainable alternative backed by local innovators and supported by the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS), an initiative led by Habitat for Humanity and supported by the Hilti Foundation. Together, they’re making it easier for families to build safe, affordable homes without harming the environment. With each new house built on M-sand, a more resilient and responsible future takes shape.

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Turning empty spaces into homes 

Ana Carolina Gomes, Associate Director for Strategy and Operations at Habitat for Humanity International, is leading efforts to address the gap of over 30 million homes in Europe sitting vacant and 900,000 people being homeless each night. At the World Urban Forum organized by UN-Habitat in November 2024, she outlined Habitat for Humanity’s plan to repurpose vacant buildings—a strategy that combines social impact with environmental responsibility. The goal is to increase affordvble housing while also reducing carbon emissions. 

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Unlocking Lithuania’s Renewable Energy Potential

Lithuania has made significant strides toward achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050, with renewable energy (RE) at the heart of this transition. However, while the country continues to expand its RE capacity, some key challenges remain—especially for homeowners in multi-family buildings. A recent study highlights how legal, financial, and informational barriers are slowing the adoption of small-scale renewable energy solutions, despite a growing interest in energy efficiency upgrades. The research is part of the SUNRISE project.

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