Baku: The world does not build housing without subsidies, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Anacl¡udia Rossbach, declared during a session titled 'A New Deal for Housing Finance' at WUF13.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rossbach emphasized that every country relies on various subsidy and incentive mechanisms to support the housing sector. She stated, "Housing is not produced on this planet without subsidies," underscoring the universal dependence on financial aid in housing development.
Rossbach highlighted a significant disparity between salaries and housing prices, particularly in Global South countries, and advocated for increased state intervention. She stressed that housing policy encompasses more than just constructing homes; it involves creating holistic living environments. "We are not just building houses, we are creating living environments," she said.
She further elaborated that effective housing projects should integrate transport, public spaces, access to jobs, social services, and community infrastructure. Rossbach also pointed out the importance of local governments' financial independence and resource capacity in this context. She mentioned that UN-Habitat, along with international financial institutions, is striving to boost municipal revenues and develop land-based financing mechanisms.