BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 22. Sustainable measures
are urgently required to improve housing affordability across the
globe, according to the Baku Call to Action, the official final
document of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in
Baku, Trend
reports.


"Housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable due to rising
land values, property speculation, short-term rentals, insecure
labour markets, limited housing supply and unequal access to
finance, forcing many households into homelessness and inadequate
living conditions. We call for sustained measures to improve
affordability, including expanding access to rental and social
housing, advancing inclusionary zoning, strengthening subsidies and
cost-reduction strategies, regulating speculative practices,
improving property taxation systems and access to finance across
income groups. We encourage Parliamentarians and National
government to introduce legislative measures that protect
affordability, while encouraging increased delivery through public
housing programmes, Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s),
private sector & self-built housing initiatives," the document
states.


The final text notes that housing is too often treated in
isolation from infrastructure, basic services, and economic
opportunities, while urban sprawl, spatial segregation, and poorly
coordinated land-use planning push low-income households into
peripheral and excluded areas, far from jobs, services, and
opportunities.


"We call for an integrated and participatory spatial planning
approach, with a gender lens, that connects housing with transport,
services, livelihoods, and natural and cultural heritage, while
promoting mixed, inclusive and well-serviced intergenerational
neighbourhoods. We call upon professionals, academia and 5 research
institutions to develop a shared vision with government and civil
society calling for integrated urban planning and targeted
subsidies that include housing, economic opportunities and
transport," the WUF13 final document emphasizes.


In addition, the document underscores that neighborhoods are not
just about their physical form and layout; they are spaces of care,
social interaction, culture, safety, and collective life that
enable the fulfillment of human potential, well-being, and a sense
of community belonging.







"We call for housing approaches that recognize gender,
diversity, sexual orientation and promote accessibility, proximity,
safety, wellbeing and social inclusion by addressing gender-based
violence, strengthening public and shared spaces, and advancing
universal and inclusive housing design. We urge government,
professional bodies and civil society to develop clear guidelines
that foster inclusive and mixed-use neighbourhoods strengthening
social cohesion, reduce segregation and improve safety, health and
dignity for all," the document reads.


The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) was held
in Baku from May 17 to May 22.


Convened by UN-Habitat and co-organized with the Government of
the Republic of Azerbaijan, WUF13 was held under the theme “Housing
the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities”.


The Forum hosted 579 sessions throughout the week, while the
Urban Expo brought together 260 exhibitors, innovators and solution
providers. WUF13 featured 11 heads of state, 9 high-level guests,
88 ministers and 76 deputy ministers, and 130 mayors, alongside
representatives of international organizations, financial
institutions, academia, civil society and grassroots
organizations.