Homes not assets: the case for housing first

Leilani Farha—former UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing and global director of THE SHIFT—joins us in this episode for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on housing as a human right. Farha describes housing as a “springboard” to nearly every other human right, emphasizing that without a safe and secure home, it is nearly impossible to live a full and dignified life. She argues that meaningfully enforcing the right to housing is key to confronting the deepening global housing crisis. Building on this foundation, our conversation turns to the structural forces shaping today’s housing landscape—from the financialization of housing markets to the systemic roots of homelessness. Rather than viewing homelessness as an individual shortcoming, we examine it as a policy failure embedded in broader economic systems. We also discuss the role of corporate actors, and why greater accountability, while not a silver bullet, could be a powerful step toward creating fairer and more sustainable housing systems. If you’d like to learn more about the Human Rights Economy, the work of OHCHR or UNSSC, check this link.