Resources

Statement of WGEH on the 63rd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD63)

The signatories to this statement, as Economic and Social Council accredited non-governmental organizations and members of the WGEH, urge the 63rd Session of the Commission on Social Development to address homelessness in the exploration of the Priority Theme: Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Read our CSocD63 Statement here.

  • The Summit of the Future is leaving behind nearly ⅕ of the world’s population who are experiencing various forms of homelessness across all countries and all economic levels. While “poverty” and “extreme poverty” is mentioned 28 times, the nearly 30-page outcome document expected after two years of deliberations, “Pact for the Future” fails to mention “homelessness” and the focused solutions required to alleviate this form of extreme poverty for individuals and families. The Summit of the Future and the Pact for the Future disregards A/RES/78/172, as well as other recent similar UN resolutions and reports, which “urges Member States to effectively address the structural and circumstantial drivers of homelessness” and improve access to affordable housing.

    Read our Statement on the Summit of the Future and the Pact for the Future here.

  • The signatories to this statement, as Economic and Social Council accredited non-governmental organizations and members of the Working Group to End Homelessness (WGEH), urge the 62st Session of the Commission on Social Development to address homelessness in the exploration of the Priority Theme; “Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication”.

    Read our Statement on the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development here.

  • In the Secretary-General’s Report on policies and programmes to address homelessness, the Secretary-General proposes possible indicators for social protection and access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing in the aftermath of COVID-19. The report shows that, while knowledge of and policies on homelessness are improving, substantial efforts are still needed.

    We welcome and support the Secretary General’s report and a continuing focus on this important issue which deprives millions of individuals worldwide of their human rights.

    Read our Statement on the Secretary-General’s Report here.

Statement on Homelessness in New York City

We, the members of the NGO Working Group to End Homelessness, stand in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness in New York City. We call for urgent action to be taken in local policy and legislative matters and in providing evidence-based housing and services to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in the city.

Read our Statement on Homelessness in New York City here.

United Nations Resolution on Homelessness

  • A United Nations General Assembly resolution is a formal expression of the opinion or will of UN organs (agencies) that provide policy recommendations, assign mandates to the UN Secretariat and the subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly, and decide on all questions regarding the UN budget. The UN Resolution on Homelessness urges member states to gather better data on homelessness and use that data to implement programs that will meaningfully address homelessness in their countries and around the world.

  • The new resolution describes global homelessness as living on the streets or other places not fit for human habitation, living in shelters or temporary housing, or living in inadequate or insecure housing. It urges member states to address the structural and circumstantial drivers of homelessness including inequalities, poverty, loss of housing and livelihood, jobs, access of affordable housing, lack of social protection, lack of access to land, credit or financing, and high costs of energy or health care, as well as lack of financial and legal literacy. Read the 2021 Resolution here.

  • As a result of the 58th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development, Member States drafted a resolution on the priority theme that was later fully adopted by the UN’s Economic and Social Council in June 2020. The resolution notes that homelessness “needs to be addressed through urgent national, multilateral and global responses”. Read the 2020 Resolution here.

  • We join in this statement to urge the 61st Session of the Commission on Social Development to address homelessness in the exploration of the Priority Theme; Creating full and productive employment and decent work for all as a way of overcoming inequalities to accelerate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    Read our full CSocD61 Statement here.

  • Although the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) do not directly mention homelessness, it is intrinsically linked to every SDG.

    Read Street Homelessness and the SDGs in English here.

    Leer Street Homelessness and the SDGs en Español aquí.

    Lire Street Homelessness and the SDGs en Français ici.

Statement of WGEH on the Secretary-General: Inclusive policies and programmes to address homelessness

  • In the Secretary-General’s Report on policies and programmes to address homelessness, the Secretary-General proposes possible indicators for social protection and access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing in the aftermath of COVID-19. The report shows that, while knowledge of and policies on homelessness are improving, substantial efforts are still needed.

    We welcome and support the Secretary General’s report and a continuing focus on this important issue which deprives millions of individuals worldwide of their human rights.

    Read our Statement on the Secretary-General’s Report here.

Statement on Homelessness in New York City

We, the members of the NGO Working Group to End Homelessness, stand in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness in New York City. We call for urgent action to be taken in local policy and legislative matters and in providing evidence-based housing and services to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in the city.

Read our Statement on Homelessness in New York City here.

United Nations Resolution on Homelessness

  • A United Nations General Assembly resolution is a formal expression of the opinion or will of UN organs (agencies) that provide policy recommendations, assign mandates to the UN Secretariat and the subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly, and decide on all questions regarding the UN budget. The UN Resolution on Homelessness urges member states to gather better data on homelessness and use that data to implement programs that will meaningfully address homelessness in their countries and around the world.

  • The new resolution describes global homelessness as living on the streets or other places not fit for human habitation, living in shelters or temporary housing, or living in inadequate or insecure housing. It urges member states to address the structural and circumstantial drivers of homelessness including inequalities, poverty, loss of housing and livelihood, jobs, access of affordable housing, lack of social protection, lack of access to land, credit or financing, and high costs of energy or health care, as well as lack of financial and legal literacy. Read the 2021 Resolution here.

  • As a result of the 58th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development, Member States drafted a resolution on the priority theme that was later fully adopted by the UN’s Economic and Social Council in June 2020. The resolution notes that homelessness “needs to be addressed through urgent national, multilateral and global responses”. Read the 2020 Resolution here.

CSocD61 Statement

  • We join in this statement to urge the 61st Session of the Commission on Social Development to address homelessness in the exploration of the Priority Theme; Creating full and productive employment and decent work for all as a way of overcoming inequalities to accelerate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Read our full CSocD61 Statement here.

Street Homelessness and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Although the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) do not directly mention homelessness, it is intrinsically linked to every SDG.

    Read Street Homelessness and the SDGs in English here.

    Leer Street Homelessness and the SDGs en Español aquí.

    Lire Street Homelessness and the SDGs en Français ici.