Housing is often treated as an afterthought in global development and humanitarian response, yet it is the foundation for recovery, resilience and dignity.

A roof over one’s head is not just shelter– it underpins health, safety, education, and economic opportunity. Despite this, short-term interventions such as tents or temporary shelters remain the default in many crises, leaving displaced and vulnerable populations dependent on repeated aid cycles rather than moving toward self-reliance.

Globally, over 1 billion people live in informal settlements without secure tenure, basic sanitation, or reliable shelter. The consequences of inadequate housing are severe. Yet research shows that access to safe, secure, and adequate housing has transformative impacts across society:

• Children and education: As many as 41.6 million children and young people could be enrolled in primary and secondary education.
• Women and girls: Adequate housing provides profound health and protection benefits. In the first year alone, it could prevent 20.3 million illnesses and 42.9 million incidents of gender-based violence.
• Economic growth: Adequate housing drives recovery, boosts productivity, and supports national economies. Equitable access can increase national income by up to 10.5% through higher productivity and reduced social costs.
• Health and life expectancy: Poor housing and unsafe environments heighten health risks. Adequate housing could increase global life expectancy by up to 4%, adding 2.4 years on average.

Yet funding streams and development planning rarely reflect this reality. Humanitarian budgets prioritise immediate relief, while development budgets often overlook housing entirely, creating a dangerous gap between emergency response and long-term recovery.

Housing as a Bridge

Housing should not be an add-on; it is the critical link between humanitarian aid and durable solutions. Temporary shelters meet urgent needs but do not provide security, dignity, or a platform for long-term recovery. If displaced families and vulnerable communities cannot move into stable, adequate housing, their ability to access education, healthcare, and livelihoods remains constrained.

This gap is especially pronounced for groups with heightened vulnerability. For example, women and girls living in informal settlements are at heightened risk of violence, exploitation, and other protection challenges. Planning for durable housing from the outset of a crisis ensures that recovery efforts are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.

Practical steps for development actors

1. Build transition pathways: Donors and governments should design emergency shelter programmes that connect directly to permanent housing solutions. This requires upfront planning, dedicated funding streams, and partnerships across humanitarian and development actors.
2. Embed housing in multi-sector strategies: Housing decisions affect health, education, livelihoods, and climate resilience. Integrating shelter planning into wider recovery strategies ensures investments have lasting impact.
3. Support local leadership and expertise: Communities understand their own needs. Empowering local actors to lead housing solutions ensures interventions are culturally appropriate, sustainable, and resilient.
4. Leverage innovative financing: Blended finance models, private sector partnerships, and multi-donor funds can expand access to affordable housing, particularly for displaced populations and those in informal settlements.
5. Monitor, learn, and adapt: Documenting what works- and what doesn’t- across crises allows the sector to scale effective approaches and avoid repeating short-term fixes that fail to provide long-term security.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to return home to safety and comfort. For millions of displaced people, that basic human need remains unmet. Without stable housing, reliance on aid continues, resilience is undermined, and dignity is compromised. Housing is not a luxury- it is a prerequisite for recovery, autonomy, and human development.

Global development and humanitarian actors have an opportunity this World Habitat Day to shift the paradigm: to plan housing as the first step in recovery, not the last.

By embedding housing in policy, funding, and programming, we can bridge the gap between emergency relief and durable solutions, ensuring that displaced and vulnerable populations can rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and security.

Author: Nosheen Malik – Global Policy and Advocacy Manager at Habitat for Humanity GB