past Events
Advancing Solutions to End Homelessness: Proven Practices and Partnerships for Change | In observance of World Homeless Day 2026
OCTOBER 9, 2026 — 9:30 - 11:30 AM (EDT) — hybrid
In observance of World Homeless Day, a distinguished panel of United Nations experts, lived experts, practitioners, local and national government representatives, and grassroots leaders from around the world convened to discuss strategies and challenges to preventing and ending homelessness across regions.
A Home for all is Justice for all | Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) virtual side event
March 9, 2026 — 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT) — via Zoom
The purpose of this event is to call practitioners, stakeholders, etc. to action to prevent homelessness by addressing both the legal and existing discrimination against women’s human rights in housing, land and inheritance rights. The panel discussed the critical issues among women and girls and successful interventions to redress violations of their rights.
The overall theme for CSW70 is: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers. Here is the link to CSW webpage for more information: https://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/commission-on-the-status-of-women/csw70-2026.
Upholding Human Dignity: Addressing Homelessness through Inclusive Social Protection | Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) side event
FEBRUARY 12, 2026 — 9:30 - 11:00 AM (EST) — virtual via Zoom
The purpose of this event was to share best practices and projects that uphold human dignity for people experiencing homelessness and in vulnerable situations, present aspects of the intertwined social protection and homelessness policies and explore possible innovative partnerships between various stakeholders on action-oriented commitments.
State of Homelessness: Local Solutions to Global Homelessness | In observance of Urban October and World Homeless Day 2024
October 10, 2024
In this webinar, the panel identified strategies working at the local level to alleviate homelessness and protect the human rights of people experiencing homelessness.
A future we want: A home for all | Parallel Event to United Nations General Assembly 78th Session/ Sustainable Development Summit/Urban October
October 5, 2023
The goal of this event was to address the intersectionality of homelessness by reflecting on General Assembly Resolution 76/133 (2022) and the Secretary General’s first ever report on Homelessness A/78/236. The panel discussion provided an opportunity for persons experiencing homelessness and civil society as well as Member States along with other experts to identify the progress that has been made and the challenges that remain as the UN brings into focus the complex issue of homelessness with a view to achieving a future in which every person experiences the dignity and human right of a safe, habitable, affordable, secure home.
Inclusive Social Policies to Achieve Gender Equality, Women Empowerment and End Homelessness
March 13, 2025
This parallel event will explored how inclusive social policies can address the intersection of homelessness and the feminization of poverty, emphasizing that doing so is crucial to achieve the Beijing Platform for Action’s goals.
Inclusive Social Policies and Poverty Eradication: Key to Ending Homelessness and Achieving the 2030 Agenda
February 8, 2024
This panel discussion provided an opportunity for Member States, persons experiencing homelessness and civil society representatives to speak on the “most visible form of extreme poverty” which is homelessness and identify social policies by which we can achieve a social just future in which every person experiences the dignity and human right of a safe, habitable, affordable, secure home as part of the 2030 Agenda.
Ending Global Homelessness through Data-Driven Policy Solutions: United Nations High-Level Political Forum Virtual Side Event
July 13, 2023
The UN NGO Working Group to End Homelessness (WGEH) is hosted a virtual panel discussion and question-and-answer (Q&A) session as a virtual side event to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). The discussion focused on raising awareness about homelessness, highlighting the need for better data, and encouraging the adoption of effective data collection and reporting methods at the local, national, and global levels.
Unequal Access to Employment and Decent Work: The Case of Women in Africa & Latin America | Commission for Social Development (CSocD61) side event
February 9, 2023
In this webinar, practitioners discussed: challenges, opportunities, and solutions for productive employment and equal pay for women in formal and informal sectors; bridging the gap on gender equality in paid and unpaid work; recognizing women's contribution to housing, the economy, and the environment; women's land and habitat rights and inclusive, resilient, and sustainable recovery.
Collaborating for Global Homelessness Definition & Measurement | World Homeless Day 2022
October 10, 2022
In this webinar, we will discuss how policymakers, practitioners, and people with the lived experience of homelessness can work together to use data to inform the development of international homelessness policy, focused on definition and disaggregated measurement.
For Indigenous People, Preserving “Home,” Culture and Community is a Human Right | UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - parallel event
May 3, 2022
Practitioners and advocates presented the challenges of homelessness among the Indigenous people of Paraguay, Colombia, and Chile, pointing to significant gaps in legislation and administrative practice in accessing rights and continued exclusion, marginalization, and dispossession.
Climate Change: Multiple Risks for Homeless Women and Girls | CSW66 Parallel Event
March 21, 2022
During this event, a panel, moderated by Jean Quinn — Executive Director of UNANIMA International and Chair of the UN Working Group to End Homelessness, discussed the ways that their work supports women and girls experiencing homelessness due to and/or during climate crises.
CSocD60 | End Homelessness & Poverty to Achieve Inclusive Recovery & Dignity for All Through the SDGs
February 15, 2022
This United Nations Commission for Social Development 60th Session side event intends to highlight the role of government leaders and civil society organizations in promoting housing solutions that are inclusive and capture the needs of the people it targets, which should not compromise their social well-being and dignity.
Climate Change: Multiple Risks for Homeless Women and Girls
Climate change may be the most important global human rights crisis of our time. Homeless people, who are already among the most vulnerable in societies, are disproportionately impacted as they have fewer resources. Register here: https://depaul.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEkfumvqDsrE92yU3irDrHfid7ZzpvSaQIr
Panelists
Balakrishnan Rajagopal, United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
Leilani Farha, Global Director of The Shift
Dr. Mininim Oseji, Immediate Past National President of the Medical Women's Association of Nigeria (MWAN)
Dr. Jennifer Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at St. John’s University
Sr. Aisha Kavalakattu, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Nepal
Dana Marlowe and Diamond Cotton — I Support the Girls
United Nations Commission for Social Development 60th Session Side Event
‘End Homelessness, Hunger, and Poverty to Achieve Inclusive Recovery and Dignity for All Through the SDGs’ intends to highlight the role of government leaders and civil society organizations in promoting housing solutions that are inclusive and capture the needs of the people it targets, which should not compromise their social well-being and dignity.