Governments move on housing as affordability pressures spread
Al Jazeera reported that up to 3.4 billion people lack adequate housing as governments pursue new measures in the US, Europe, UK and Africa.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Governments are starting to advance housing measures as affordability strains reach across rich and poor countries alike. Al Jazeera reported that up to 3.4 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, underscoring the scale of a problem visible from dense urban towers to informal settlements.
According to Al Jazeera, meeting global demand for affordable and accessible housing by 2030 will require $3 trillion to $4 trillion. The outlet also reported that the world would need to build 96,000 new homes every day to close the gap.
Policy responses gather pace
In the United States, Al Jazeera reported that a rare bipartisan housing bill has passed the Senate. The report did not detail the bill’s provisions, but its cross-party passage points to growing political attention on housing costs.
In Europe, the European Commission is pushing new measures aimed at affordability, according to Al Jazeera. The move places housing affordability on the agenda of the bloc’s executive arm as member states face pressure over rents, supply and access.
The United Kingdom has also changed its housing rules. Al Jazeera reported that landmark legislation has ended no-fault evictions, a practice that allowed landlords to remove tenants without citing fault by the renter.
In Africa, governments have made a regional commitment through the Nairobi Declaration, which Al Jazeera said calls for faster delivery of affordable housing. The declaration adds to a wider set of government actions now being framed around housing access and supply.
A global shortfall
The figures reported by Al Jazeera point to a shortfall that cannot be addressed through construction alone unless financing, policy and delivery all expand sharply. A daily need for 96,000 new homes through 2030 would require sustained building at a pace far beyond ordinary housing programmes.
The challenge spans different types of places, from formal high-rise cities where costs can exceed wages to slums where basic housing standards are not met. Al Jazeera described the problem as one in which having a roof overhead has become harder to afford.
The measures now under way vary by region, from legislation and executive policy to international declarations. Together, they show governments acknowledging housing affordability as a major public issue, even as the scale of the reported need remains far larger than any single national programme.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.