The right to housing in practice


Learn about concrete initiatives of governments, organisations of the civil society and of citizens themselves that implemented the right to housing. Here you find examples of initiatives in the legal area, as well as housing projects, policies and programs that, in practice, concretised this right. If you know of other examples, share them in this space. For that purpose, contact the Rapporteur, sending information for publication in this section.

Agrarian reform includes support to build houses in Dom Tomás Balduíno, Brazil

Published in Saturday March 20th, 2010

After continued repossession in several places, 61 families, formerly street dwellers and currently members of the Homeless Workers Movement, obtained a settlement close to a large urban centre known as Comuna da Terra Dom Tomás Balduíno, in Franco da Rocha, in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region, in Brazil.

People affected by hydroelectric power plant in the Southern Brazil receive fair compensation after participative proceeding

Published in Saturday March 20th, 2010

The case of the implementation of the Itá hydroelectric power plant between the States of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, demonstrates the feasibility of the agreement between the involved parties to define resettlement and financial indemnity criteria by removal necessity

Right to housing movement modifies a highway project in the Philippines

Published in Monday December 21st, 2009

The extension of a highway in Longos, Bacoor, in the Philippines, financed by foreign investors and the World Bank, initially foresaw the construction of a landfill on an area occupied by a fishing community, requiring the displacement of 5,000 families. While still in the design stage, however, due to the reaction and mobilization of the community, the project was altered, with a proposal for construction of a viaduct to the sea. As a result, the number of families that would be displaced decreased to 600.

Tool to calculate losses caused by the eviction

Published in Monday December 21st, 2009

The Habitat International Coalition – Housing and Land Rights Network (HIC-HLRN) has developed a tool that establishes a methodology for financial appraisal of material and non-material costs and losses resulting from an eviction. The function of such a tool is the calculation of losses already incurred, but it can be used also for conducting a baseline survey to help in the registration of assets.