IHC - Housing for All

About the IHC

History and Mission

The International Housing Coalition (IHC) was founded and capitalized by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and Habitat for Humanity International (HfHI) to promote the goal of “HOUSING FOR ALL” as an essential element to ending poverty worldwide. The IHC was incorporated as a non profit organization in August 2005.

Recognizing the worldwide housing problem and the lack of priority being given to housing issues, the IHC was organized for the purpose of restoring housing to a position of importance and priority on the world development agenda.

The Housing Challenge

Worldwide urban, housing and slum problems remain serious issues today. The United Nations estimates that one billion people live in slums—hundreds of millions existing in desperate poverty without access to potable water, adequate sanitation or basic security. Issues of access to land, property rights, affordable finance, basic services and a lack of will are at the core of housing and social issues yet to be overcome.

In carrying out its mission the IHC supports the basic principles of private property rights, secure tenure, effective title systems, and efficient and equitable housing finance systems. These principles are essential elements to furthering economic growth and development and they support civic stability and democratic values. The IHC vigorously advocates for these principles in national and international forums, and emphasizes giving high, sustained priority to housing the poor and slum dwellers across the world in support of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

The IHC Strategy

At the World Urban Forum III in Vancouver the IHC working in conjunction with some 14 national and international development organizations, will present important worldwide experience and recommended policies drawn from that experience in 12 networking sessions. Of special focus were the issues of how to engage the private and NGO sectors, and the level and priority of funding for housing in multilateral and bilateral assistance programs.

The IHC is developing a future plan of action and advocacy that will be implemented in the years after Vancouver. The IHC has begun mobilizing its partners and the worldwide networks of HfHI, NAR and CREA (numbering more than 150 groups in 100 countries) in an effort to reach the goal of affordable and decent “HOUSING FOR ALL”.

During the next year IHC will undertake these interrelated activities: advocacy; out reach and implementation of a program with missions of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve housing policies in selected developing countries.


		International Housing Coalition (IHC)

About IHC IHC Program IHC Partners WUF III Housing Papers and Participation Upcoming Events Agreement with USAID Staff and Board of Directors Contact Information Links Home 10 G Street NE, Suite 480 Washington D.C. 20002 Tel: +1-202-408-8506/8507 Fax: +1-202-408-8509 info@intlhc.org		About the IHC History and Mission The International Housing Coalition (IHC) was founded and capitalized by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and Habitat for Humanity International (HfHI) to promote the goal of “HOUSING FOR ALL” as an essential element to ending poverty worldwide. The IHC was incorporated as a non profit organization in August 2005. Recognizing the worldwide housing problem and the lack of priority being given to housing issues, the IHC was organized for the purpose of restoring housing to a position of importance and priority on the world development agenda. The Housing Challenge Worldwide urban, housing and slum problems remain serious issues today. The United Nations estimates that one billion people live in slums—hundreds of millions existing in desperate poverty without access to potable water, adequate sanitation or basic security. Issues of access to land, property rights, affordable finance, basic services and a lack of will are at the core of housing and social issues yet to be overcome. In carrying out its mission the IHC supports the basic principles of private property rights, secure tenure, effective title systems, and efficient and equitable housing finance systems. These principles are essential elements to furthering economic growth and development and they support civic stability and democratic values. The IHC vigorously advocates for these principles in national and international forums, and emphasizes giving high, sustained priority to housing the poor and slum dwellers across the world in support of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. The IHC Strategy At the World Urban Forum III in Vancouver the IHC working in conjunction with some 14 national and international development organizations, will present important worldwide experience and recommended policies drawn from that experience in 12 networking sessions. Of special focus were the issues of how to engage the private and NGO sectors, and the level and priority of funding for housing in multilateral and bilateral assistance programs. The IHC is developing a future plan of action and advocacy that will be implemented in the years after Vancouver. The IHC has begun mobilizing its partners and the worldwide networks of HfHI, NAR and CREA (numbering more than 150 groups in 100 countries) in an effort to reach the goal of affordable and decent “HOUSING FOR ALL”. During the next year IHC will undertake these interrelated activities: advocacy; out reach and implementation of a program with missions of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve housing policies in selected developing countries.