IHC - Housing for All

About the IHC and Its Programs

IHC

The International Housing Coalition (IHC) was organized 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 nonprofit organization in August 2005 and was granted tax exempt status in October 2006.

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.

IHC Program and Activities

The program agenda of the IHC includes:

Assist in the design and implementation of advocacy programs that support “HOUSING FOR ALL”, including the formation and training of housing coalitions in selected countries.
Produce information on the priority and level of funding for shelter and housing in multilateral and bilateral assistance programs. Using this information advocate for greater investment in shelter and housing programs.
Participate in global forums, training opportunities and speaking engagements as a means of highlighting shelter and housing issues within the context of poverty reduction.
Establish cooperative relationships with coalitions and other parties with goals similar to the IHC so that jointly more attention can be brought to shelter and housing issues.
Provide targeted advice in housing policy and program analysis and assessment to selected communities, municipalities and nations, when requested.
Work with donor organizations, USAID missions and local coalitions on improving housing policies and programs (e.g. finance and land tenure etc).
Advocate for the improvement of incentives, the lowering of risks and the elimination of impediments facing the provision of low-income housing.
Contribute to the compilation of hard data and information on housing issues and facilitate the dissemination of that data and information among IHC members and other parties to contribute to improving housing and shelter around the world.


		International Housing Coalition (IHC)

Homepage About the IHC and its Programs IHC Members Join the IHC Contribute to the IHC Sponsors and Funders Newsletters and Research Reports WUF III Papers Upcoming Events Agreement with USAID Board and Staff Contact the IHC Links 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 and Its Programs IHC The International Housing Coalition (IHC) was organized 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 nonprofit organization in August 2005 and was granted tax exempt status in October 2006. 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. IHC Program and Activities The program agenda of the IHC includes: Assist in the design and implementation of advocacy programs that support “HOUSING FOR ALL”, including the formation and training of housing coalitions in selected countries. Produce information on the priority and level of funding for shelter and housing in multilateral and bilateral assistance programs. Using this information advocate for greater investment in shelter and housing programs. Participate in global forums, training opportunities and speaking engagements as a means of highlighting shelter and housing issues within the context of poverty reduction. Establish cooperative relationships with coalitions and other parties with goals similar to the IHC so that jointly more attention can be brought to shelter and housing issues. Provide targeted advice in housing policy and program analysis and assessment to selected communities, municipalities and nations, when requested. Work with donor organizations, USAID missions and local coalitions on improving housing policies and programs (e.g. finance and land tenure etc). Advocate for the improvement of incentives, the lowering of risks and the elimination of impediments facing the provision of low-income housing. Contribute to the compilation of hard data and information on housing issues and facilitate the dissemination of that data and information among IHC members and other parties to contribute to improving housing and shelter around the world.