DePaul urges new action and commitment to ending homelessness

Homelessness is a global problem which has a catastrophic impact on individuals, families and communities, according to a new report from DePaul International.

Hundreds of millions of people, comparable in size to the US, are believed to be homeless worldwide, the report says, yet the subject remains largely absent from international development and climate agendas.

DePaul questions why there are no targets for homelessness within the current Sustainable Development Goals framework.

“Too often, development programmes have… taken a siloed approach, delivering education, health or livelihood projects without recognising that without stable housing, the benefits of these interventions cannot be sustained.”

The report, The Case for Global Action on Homelessness, argues links between homelessness and the three global development priorities of health, climate change and education says people experiencing homelessness have some of the poorest health and education outcomes and are exposed to some of the worst effects of climate change.

The report, analysing international development and philanthropic funding, finds that homelessness is “almost invisible” in international development budgets.

The report calls on governments, development agencies and funders to respond to the UN Secretary-General’s call and launch a global action agenda, recognising the importance of reducing homelessness in international development strategies, strengthening data and restoring funding.

The report also calls for a national homelessness strategy, for social housing programmes and investment in research and learning.

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