Habitat for Humanity marks 50 years with worldwide housing campaign
Habitat for Humanity Europe and the Middle East joins Let’s Open the Door, a global campaign to ignite urgency around access to affordable and adequate housing.
The global housing crisis is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Every day, 1 in 3 people worldwide wake up without access to a safe, affordable home—a reality that continues to shape health, opportunity and economic stability across generations.
Today, Habitat for Humanity Europe and the Middle East joins hundreds of Habitat organizations around the world to launch “Let’s Open the Door”, a global campaign marking Habitat’s 50th anniversary. The initiative will bring the urgency of the housing crisis to life through pop-up installations, on-the-ground builds and digital storytelling across more than 60 countries.
This coordinated global effort aims to ignite a movement—placing housing at the center of conversations about health, equity and economic resilience.
A crisis hiding in plain sight
Across the world, more than 2.8 billion people experience some form of housing inadequacy. At the same time, Europe presents a striking paradox:
- Over 30 million homes stand unoccupied, with 33% of buildings underoccupied
- Meanwhile, 17% of households live in overcrowded conditions
- 15% of the EU population lives with issues such as leaking roofs, damp walls or rot
- More than 40 million people in Europe struggle to heat their homes
These figures reflect a growing affordability gap that is pushing millions into precarious living situations.
Why housing matters
A safe, affordable home is the foundation for health, education, well-being and economic opportunity. It provides stability, peace of mind and the ability for families to focus on building their futures.
At scale, investing in adequate housing—particularly in informal settlements worldwide—could unlock transformative benefits:
- 10.5% increase in GDP
- 41.6 million additional children enrolled in school
- 730,000 preventable deaths avoided annually
A global call to action
“As we mark 50 years of building alongside families and communities, we are inviting people everywhere to be part of something bigger,” said Ekin Ogutogullari, Vice President for Europe and the Middle East at Habitat for Humanity.
“The housing crisis affects one in three people globally; in Europe we see millions of homes standing empty while families live in overcrowded or inadequate conditions. We cannot simply build our way out of this crisis. We need stronger partnerships, smarter policies, and collective action. Give. Speak up. Volunteer. Let’s open the door to brighter futures—and work together to close the housing gap, starting right here and beyond.”
Bringing the message to the streets
As part of the campaign, Habitat is creating a visible, interactive presence around the world through “open door” installations in 10 global cities. These pop-ups are designed to spark curiosity, conversation and connection—symbolizing the opportunity that a safe home creates.
The first installation will launch in New York City, with additional locations following across April, May and June.
In Europe, Habitat for Humanity Great Britain will host a two-day interactive “Open the Door” exhibition in London this May (details to be announced). The installation will invite visitors to reflect on the meaning of home and explore how access to housing shapes stability, opportunity and well-being.
Visitors will be encouraged to engage with the installation, share their perspectives and learn how they can take action—through volunteering, advocacy or financial support. Each installation will also connect participants to Habitat’s digital campaign experience on habitat.org.
“Now is the time to get involved,” Ogutogullari added. “As we step into our next 50 years, we are focused on building a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. If the housing crisis is on your radar, this is the movement shaping what comes next—help us open the door.”
Regional leadership and impact
Established in 2007 in Bratislava, Habitat for Humanity Europe and the Middle East leads regional and worldwide housing efforts from its area office in Slovakia. The organization drives key initiatives including energy efficiency programs, crisis response projects in Ukraine and neighboring countries, and its flagship Empty Spaces to Homes project.
The office also mobilizes funding from European corporate, institutional and individual donors to support Habitat for Humanity’s work both regionally and globally.
Learn more
To learn more about the global “Let’s Open the Door” campaign, visit https://www.habitat.org/emea/open-door for updates on global installations, partnerships and opportunities to get involved.