Have you ever considered the sheer number of unused commercial and business premises scattered about? Just picture this: Rather than constructing new houses and apartment complexes, why not repurpose these vacant spaces into warm and welcoming homes for those struggling to find a decent and secure place to live?
Located in the tranquil natural environment of Kiskunság, Hungary, sits Strazsa Tanya, a guesthouse and ranch. The property is named after the nearby Strázsa “mountain,” making it the perfect place to escape. After the Ukrainian invasion broke out, the facility transformed itself into a sanctuary for Ukrainian refugees, particularly those with disabilities and other cumulative disadvantages. Since then, the ranch has provided not only temporary shelter but also a pathway to rebuilding lives.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization. Our leaders deeply believe that all people deserve a decent place to call home.
Skopje was named Europe’s most polluted capital in 2018 by the World Health Organization. Retrofitting buildings reduces the pollution and improves residents` health who regularly come down with pneumonia.
Kauma Village is an informal settlement of over 33,000 people who live on the outskirts of Lillongwe, Malawi’s capital. In Kauma, many people lack basic water and sanitation facilities, as it falls outside the government’s services.
Mamolelekeng is a remarkable woman. She’s 82. And she is single-handedly raising five orphaned great grandchildren by herself.
Habitat for Humanity International is calling on delegates at the COP28 climate change conference to prioritize the housing needs of vulnerable populations, particularly those who are living in slums and informal settlements, by taking action that will meaningfully address the impact of climate change on safe, decent, and affordable housing.
Can a transition to a greener economy be just if millions of people still lack access to safe, affordable housing? As Europe embarks on its ambitious journey toward a climate-neutral future, it risks overlooking one of the most foundational elements of a truly Just Transition: housing. Far more than just shelter, housing underpins economic stability, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
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.