Regardless of what financial bracket you fall into, it’s safe to say that everyone has been affected by the recession. Families are scaling back, companies are forced to lay off employees and people everywhere are rethinking how they spend money. However, trying times always offer valuable perspective—we must be thankful for what we do have and consider those who are struggling to provide basic needs for their families.
According to the United Nations, there are approximately 100 million homeless people in the world and millions more living in inadequate, unsanitary conditions, often without running water or electricity. The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day. On Monday Oct. 5, Habitat for Humanity asks everyone to join in observance of World Habitat Day and support decent, affordable housing for all. Main events such as lectures, workshops, volunteer appreciation, potlucks and recruitment will be occurring in Washington D.C., but check your local chapter of Habitat for Humanity to find events in your community.
Photo Mosaic by Habitat for Humanity. Photo Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
U.S. Housing Facts
- About 95 million people, one third of the nation, have housing problems including a high-cost burden, overcrowding, poor quality shelter and homelessness. (National Low Income Housing Coalition: 2004)
- One in three American households spend more than 30 percent of income on housing, and one in seven spends more than 50 percent. (Joint Center for Housing Studies: 2006)
- The number of low-income families that lack safe and affordable housing is related to the number of children that suffer from asthma, viral infections, anemia, stunted growth and other health problems. About 21,000 children have stunted growth attributable to the lack of stable housing; 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 9 are hospitalized for asthma attacks each year because of cockroach infestation at home; and more than 180 children die each year in house fires attributable to faulty electrical heating and electrical equipment. (Sandel, et al: 1999)
Global poverty facts
- By the year 2030, an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing. This translates into a demand for 96,150 new affordable units every day and 4,000 every hour. (UN-HABITAT: 2005)
- One out of every three city dwellers – nearly a billion people – lives in a slum. (Slum indicators include: lack of water, lack of sanitation, overcrowding, non-durable structures and insecure tenure.) (UN-HABITAT: 2006)
- UN-Habitat has reported that because of poor living conditions, women living in slums are more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than their rural counterparts, and children in slums are more likely to die from water-borne and respiratory illness. (UN-HABITAT: 2006)
Get Involved
Ask Congress to pass legislation that would make safe, affrodable housing a priority.
Make a donation to Habitat for Humanity.
To learn more about World Habitat Day Events visit www.habitat.org/gov/take_action/world_habitat_day_events_2009.
