World Faces Housing Crisis

A new report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme warns that unless governments around the world take action the world faces a massive urban crisis as housing shortages could lead to mega-slums.

1 minute read

September 14, 2005, 2:00 PM PDT

By Michael Dudley


According to "recent estimates, more than two billion people would be added to the number of city dwellers in developing countries by 2030. To meet the needs of that additional population, some 35 million new housing units would have to be built every year for the next 25 years.

"But unless adequate financial resources are invested in the development of urban shelter and services, including clean water and sanitation, billions of people will be trapped in poverty, deplorable housing conditions, poor health and low productivity, making today's enormous slum challenge even greater."

Wednesday, September 14, 2005 in CommonDreams

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