Housing is not simply a commodity, but a right of every human being, a place to live with safety, peace and dignity. Despite that, people around the world are under the threat of eviction for being unable to pay rent or mortgages.
The 2008 housing market crisis in the United States affected the common belief that the private market is capable of providing adequate housing for all. Many analysts point to a lack of regulations for the financial system, but the crisis was also a reflection of significant flaws in housing policies, such as the excessive focus on home-ownership as the sole solution to ensure access to housing.
Home-ownership can be the best option for many people, but to achieve adequate housing for all, a variety of solutions are required. These include tax incentives, microcredit, self-management, cooperatives, urbanization of settlements, lease programs, direct subsidies to the poor and public housing. Markets, even the regulated ones, cannot provide proper housing for all and an active public sector is fundamental.
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