BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Addressing
homelessness must be viewed as a global priority and reflected in
declarations by national leaders, as well as in the work of
relevant ministries, using a unified approach to assessing needs
and monitoring progress in the housing sector, Janet Golding,
Assistant Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and
Communities of Canada, said, Trend reports.


She made the remark during the session “Housing at the Heart of
Global Coalitions,” held as part of the World Urban Forum (WUF13)
in Baku.


According to her, including housing issues on the agendas of
infrastructure, financial, and sustainability forums will ensure
more coordinated and long-term action.


Janet Golding also emphasized the importance of developing
common indicators and reporting systems, including UN-Habitat
initiatives to define and measure homelessness, which will
strengthen global accountability.


The representative from Canada noted that her country’s
experience demonstrates the effectiveness of clear definitions of
housing need, which make it possible to identify households facing
problems of unaffordable, overcrowded, or substandard housing and
to develop more precise policies in line with SDG 11.


"Canada’s approach to addressing homelessness can be applied in
other countries as well. The federal Reaching Home program
implements data-driven, community-focused, and ‘Housing First’
approaches, and ensures coordinated access to services for people
experiencing homelessness, allowing assistance to be provided
regardless of the ‘point of entry.’ “The lack of safe, affordable,
and quality housing remains the key cause of homelessness,” she
said.


Among the solutions, she cited the use of public land for
affordable housing construction, blended finance models to mitigate
investment risks and attract private capital, and the adoption of
modern construction methods to accelerate housing development and
achieve climate goals.


She also emphasized the need to expand cooperation with
international organizations, institutional investors, charitable
organizations, and the private sector to mobilize the resources
necessary for large-scale housing construction.







According to her, governments must act as catalysts for
innovation and support people-centered approaches to creating
inclusive cities where people can live, work, and thrive.


In particular, she noted that the G7 and G20 provide
opportunities to share experiences, develop joint commitments, and
monitor each other’s progress.


The third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum
(WUF13) is underway in Baku.


On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New
Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and
civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the
United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework
of the forum.


The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever
Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing
crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that
day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated
within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an
important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.