UN Secretary-General Calls for Rights-Based National Strategies to End Homelessness
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities | SDG 1: No Poverty
Institutions: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
A new UN Secretary-General’s Report (A/80/316) on Inclusive Policies and Programmes to Address Homelessness warns that homelessness remains one of the most visible yet least addressed symptoms of global inequality and governance failure. Drawing on data from 38 countries and organizations, the report finds that while policy attention has grown, major gaps persist in definitions, data systems, legal protections, and long-term housing solutions.
It urges governments to adopt rights-based, inclusive national strategies that treat housing as a human right rather than a commodity. Recommendations include: harmonised definitions of homelessness; disaggregated, participatory data systems; an end to criminalisation; eviction safeguards; and coordinated cross-sectoral approaches linking housing to health, education, and social protection. The report highlights that over 1 billion people live in informal settlements and millions experience hidden or temporary homelessness, with women, children, persons with disabilities, and informal workers facing heightened risks.
For India, the report aligns with ongoing programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission, which address urban shelter and livelihoods. However, the UN’s findings call for deeper data integration across ministries, clearer definitions that include those in precarious or temporary housing, and stronger legal safeguards against eviction and discrimination. With India’s cities facing increasing climate-related displacement, the message is urgent: homelessness must be reframed as a governance and rights challenge, not just a housing shortage.
Follow the full report here:
UN Secretary-General’s Report A/80/316 – Inclusive Policies and Programmes to Address Homelessness