A/67/286
Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of
the right to an adequate standard of living
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing analyses the
ruling paradigm of housing policies that focus on housing finance as the main means
of promoting homeownership. The report assesses the impact of prevalent housing
finance policies on the right to adequate housing of those living in poverty. The
Special Rapporteur concludes that the full realization of the right to adequate
housing, without discrimination, cannot be promoted solely by financial mechanisms
and requires broader and more holistic housing policies and State interventions. She
calls for a paradigm shift from housing policies based on the financialization of
housing to a human rights-based approach to housing policies.
Contents
Page
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
II.
The human rights framework for housing finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
III.
Prevalent housing finance policies and their impact on the right to adequate housing of
people living in poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
A.
Mortgage markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
B.
Demand subsidies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
C.
Housing microfinance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Conclusions and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
IV.
2
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