Conference to create solutions for workforce housing

During the program, the foundation will unveil the Global Housing Foundation Network, a digital resource tool providing information, resources, relevant links and research. PHOTO: ImageCollab

With COVID-19 capturing the world’s attention for most of 2020 and one-fifth of the population still lacking adequate housing, the global housing crisis has also been brought to the forefront. The Global Housing Foundation, an organization providing solutions for workforce housing challenges, partnering with UN-Habitat, a program for sustainable urban development, will host a virtual conference focusing on ‘Global Strategies for Smart, Sustainable Workforce Housing’ as part of United Nations Day on 24 October. Owen Gwyn, chairperson of the Global Housing Foundation, says during the program, the foundation will unveil the Global Housing Foundation Network, a digital resource tool providing information, resources, relevant links and research. He says it will serve as an important catalyst to connect and build global partnerships to stimulate the creation of housing for the working poor throughout the world. “We envision the network to serve as a meeting ground where industry leaders throughout the world join forces to formulate strategies which will aid us in meeting one common goal of developing smart solutions for sustainable workforce housing, a central weapon in the fight against disease, poverty and other crises. This digital tool will be a database focused on workforce housing topics that consistently populate around-the-clock with the most up-to-date news and data available,” says Gwyn. The Global Housing Foundation’s annual conference in support of UN Day brings key international leaders together to generate ideas and strategies which encourage global action to address workforce housing. It will include a live virtual conference and several micro-conferences centered around specific topics which include one-on-one interview discussions with key international experts. Sharon Young, president of the Global Housing Foundation, says the conference serves as a platform to stimulate conversations, ideas and solutions on workforce housing and participants will examine how to create a better world despite challenges we face. She says the foundation subscribes to the belief that communities with proper housing display upward trends in economic growth, education, healthcare systems, social protection and increased job opportunities. “The agenda for UN Day will follow the same mindset with a call to action for lives to be saved and livelihoods to be restored so the world can emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis. We believe when we take the right steps together, this pandemic may mark the start of a new kind of global and social unity. Solutions for workforce housing can strengthen human rights for many and encourage peace and safety for families,” says Young.