The FY 2012 Annual Report is now available online. The report highlights the activities of the fiscal year, running from October 2011 through September 2012. The IHC published a paper and set of case studies, co-sponsored another successful graduate student essay competition and launched a blog. We also strengthened our advocacy program through meetings and [...]

January 2013

The IHC has released a new publication, Homeowners’ Associations in Central and Eastern Europe: Opportunities and Challenges for the Real Estate Market Two Decades After Housing Privatization, which complements the IHC’s recent paper Homeowners’ Associations in the Former Soviet Union: Stalled on the Road to Reform.

December 2012

The International Housing Coalition would like to congratulate Representative Howard Berman (D-CA) on introducing the Global Partnerships Act of 2012. The bill is a significant step toward setting a new framework for effective, transparent, and accountable United States foreign assistance.

The Global Partnerships Act offers a comprehensive update to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This outdated law governs the major aspects of US foreign assistance and needs to be improved. Introducing the Global Partnerships Act is the first step in ensuring this vital update.

May 2012

The IHC recently unveiled a new blog, discussing shelter, land and property issues around the world. The blog will feature analysis of current events, event coverage, literature reviews, guest posts, and more. We invite all of our readers to join the discussion by commenting on and sharing information and opinions provided on our blog.

April 2012

During the Communist era most of the urban housing stock in countries in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union was publicly built, owned and managed. Since 1989 these countries have either sold or given away the publicly owned multi-family housing stock. Unfortunately, efforts to set up private condominium associations (or homeowner associations) to maintain and operate multi-family dwellings have met with limited success.

This paper discusses the historical context of such associations and the challenges they face, followed by solutions and steps forward in repairing housing stock in the region.

March 2012

The IHC, in partnership with a broad coalition, attended a day long advocacy and lobbying event in Washington D.C. on Thursday in recognition of World Water Day 2012. More than 100 people gathered to meet with members of Congress and their staff, primarily to advocate for the Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2011, companion bill to the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. Adequate shelter is intrinsically linked to water and sanitation services, and with the density and complexity of urban slums, it is only more important that these issues are addressed together in cities. We expect to remain involved as this new bill travels through the House and Senate.

January 2012

To encourage a new generation of urban policy makers and promote early career research, the IHC is co-sponsoring a third annual graduate student essay competition. Winning papers will be published and selected authors will present their papers in a policy workshop in Washington DC. The grand prize winner will also present at the World Urban Forum in September, 2012 in Naples, Italy.