At a press conference this week, the International Real Estate Federation FIABCI launched a competition around the theme "The City We Need is Affordable." IHC supports the campaign and shares the belief that affordable housing is critical to the development of an inclusive and sustainable city. The current lack of affordable housing in many cities is exacerbated by inflated land prices, inadequate focus on affordability, and lack of private sector participation. 

 

FIABCI will bring together the real estate industry's major stakeholders to propose innovative solutions to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing.  The competition will  identify and collect best practices, innovations and smart solutions to addressing the challenge of affordable housing in cities around the world. The winners of the competition will join FIABCI at Habitat III to present their innovations. 

 

At the launch of the competition, IHC President and CEO Judith Hermanson highlighted that with  more than half of the world's population now living in cities what happens in cities matters to everyone.  Affordable housing is a key path to increased prosperity for individuals and families and is central to IHC's awareness and advocacy program.