Home Equals is a five-year global advocacy campaign committed to achieving policy change at all levels to ensure equitable access to adequate housing for people living in informal settlements. Globally, over 1.1 billion people, often called the “invisible billion,” live in informal settlements, facing challenges that jeopardize their health, security, and resilience. In Fiji alone, there are over 250 informal settlements—a staggering number for a population of less than a million—and this figure is expected to rise unless action is taken.
Inadequate housing means:
Lack of basic services: Homes without clean water put families at risk of life-threatening diseases.
No land tenure security: Families live in constant fear of eviction, unable to plan for their future.
Poor climate resilience: Homes built in disaster-prone areas make families more vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Limited civic participation: Families struggle to have their voices heard, further entrenching inequality.
Our Goal: Putting Housing on the G7 Agenda
The Group of Seven (G7)—comprising the world’s largest industrialized economies—delivers a significant share of global development assistance. With their worldwide influence, G7 nations have the power to address structural barriers that prevent informal settlements from thriving.
In 2025, Canada will host the G7 Summit, a pivotal opportunity to ensure that housing is on the global agenda. We are calling on G7 leaders to take decisive action to improve the lives of the invisible billion—those living without the security of a safe, decent, and adequate home.
How You Can Help
To amplify our message, Habitat for Humanity has launched a petition, aiming to gather over 30,000 signatures. Your support can help ensure that the voices of families in informal settlements are heard and that real, meaningful change happens.
Because everyone deserves a decent place to live.
