Ending The Housing Crisis Needs A Fresh Perspective

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Considering the homeless, non-slum and slum dwelling families, the estimated number of inadequately housed families in 2018 is around 47.3 million or 41% of urban families living in India, per ICRIER's study. 

And we are not alone. Every corner of the planet tells a similar tale of a housing crisis that refuses to end, no matter what policy makers throw at it. Perhaps the very basis of the solutions are flawed. 

Is Housing A Human Right?

For many, housing is in a state of crisis. However, for other folks, the housing market is doing exactly what it should be doing: making money. 

The epicentre of the housing crisis is that it is both a basic human right as well as a commodity from which to extract wealth.

Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Most housing crisis debates ignore this contradiction. Those who oppose density increasing projects and those who believe we need more housing both focus on numbers, design, zoning and density. 

These perspectives miss critical considerations about housing - for whom, against whom, who profits and who is excluded.

Demand And Supply

Is building more and more housing the answer to the global crisis? Probably not. 

In Canada, some of the biggest price increases on record have been in Q3, 2021, when 18 homes were completed for every new person. How then does one use the most basic economic principle to ensure affordability? 

The answers to the housing problem are far more complex, and require a deeper understanding of what type of supply gets built, what does not and what is lost as cities grow and redevelop. 

Share Your Thoughts

Is the PMAY programme going to fix it then? It will certainly make a dent in the numbers but not in the urban centres where a solution is most needed. 

This is a big debate and we are in no position to offer a solution. However, we want to keep this conversation going, so please hit reply and tell us what you think, or know. 

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