New campaign addresses land rights around the world
Land is the foundation for life. Campaign will influence land policies and systems, leading to more opportunities for secure and decent shelter.
San Jose, Costa Rica (March 8, 2016) — As the world continues to urbanize, cities will grow rapidly with the number of people in need of decent housing increasing faster than ever before. To combat this growing trend, Habitat for Humanity International is launching Solid Ground, a three-year global advocacy campaign focused on promoting policies and systems to advance access to land for shelter.
Habitat’s Solid Ground campaign aims to draw attention to the often overlooked role of land for housing and will influence land policies through four key areas: secure tenure, slum upgrading, disaster resilience and gender equality.
To date, 75 percent of land worldwide is not legally documented, leaving millions of people in developing countries vulnerable to eviction or displacement after a disaster. Many of these people, primarily women, lack access to property rights and in turn face barriers in finding adequate housing for themselves and their families.
“Over the past 40 years, we have become a global organization capable of tackling large social issues in need of change,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “The need for access to land is one of the largest obstacles to a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Through the Solid Ground campaign, Habitat organizations around the world will use our collective voice to remove barriers and ensure strength, stability and self-reliance for generations to come.”
To learn more about Habitat’s Solid Ground campaign and how to get involved visit: solidgroundcampaign.org/.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitatlatino.org