Supporting Displaced Populations Through Housing

Evidence that the impact of wars and environmental crises is disproportionately compounded for vulnerable and low-income people are increasingly precise and clear. Some existing policy frameworks on displacements can provide a preliminary compass for responses and housing provision to the affected populations. However, most regulations fail to provide effective tools for supporting refugees and hosting communities, and are often too focused on immediate needs rather than on long-term impact.

It is imperative to develop holistic approaches when planning for recovery, by engaging government authorities, private sector and civil society, with the objective of helping hosting communities achieve sustainable urban development and quality infrastructure.

The decision-making process for the development of housing policies and prioritization of investments should be participatory and involve all key stakeholders, allowing for action plans that can be tailored to respond to regional specific needs and work to create a dialogue between host communities and refugees in order to build resilience and mitigate future crises.

This panel aims to discuss some ways of how housing policies can protect people impacted by migration and increase social cohesion, especially when it comes to developing a multi-sectoral approach that should address the causes and consequences of this humanitarian issue.