Christopher Elisara (World Evangelical Alliance) on Action on Housing - Media Stakeout (WUF13)

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
We have a media stakeout statement that will be made at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.
The statement at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Bku Wo 13 will be made on behalf of the Faith Pavilion.
It is a call to action on housing.
It will be delivered by Christopher Alizara representing Faith for Cities.
Good afternoon and thank you for joining us.
Today, at the 13th World Open forum here in Baku, the Faith Pavilion is pleased to release the Faith Pavilion Call to Action on housing, a global multifith statement bringing together faith leaders, humanitarian organizations, urban practitioners, and civil society partners around a shared commitment to address the global housing crisis.
The theme of this year's World Urban Forum is housing the world, safe and resilient cities and communities.
This theme could not come at a more timely period.
Across the world, billions of people are affected by inadequate housing, rising costs, displacement, informal sediments, climate impacts, and deepening inequalities.
Housing is not simply about building or shelter.
Housing is foundational to human dignity, family stability, public health, economic opportunity, social cohesion, and community flourishing.
Safe, secure, affordable, and dignified housing is one of the basic conditions for people and communities to thrive.
This call to action recognizes that faith communities have an important role to play.
Around the world, faith communities are deeply rooted in neighborhoods and in cities.
They bring trusted relationships, moral leadership, land and property assets, volunteer networks, financial resources, and longstanding commitments to serve vulnerable communities.
At the same time, this statement is not a claim that faith communities can act alone.
The global housing crisis requires stronger collaboration among governments, faith communities, civil society organizations, financial institutions, urban practitioners, local communities, and the private sector.
Together, we can expand access to affordable housing, support informal cinnamon upgrading, promote climate resilient and ecologically responsible development, strengthen social cohesion and local stewardship, and advance human scale, inclusive and sustainable placemaking.
This call to action is therefore not only a statement of concern.
It is an invitation to partnership and practical action.
It calls faith communities and public institutions to work together so that housing policy, land use, finance, infrastructure, and community life serve human dignity and the common good.
We invite organizations, institutions, and leaders to review and endorse the statement.
Join the growing multifith movement for housing justice and participate in the implementation conversations beyond Wolf 13.
We are not asking for a parallel agenda.
We're asking to help deliver a shared agenda, safe housing, resilient cities, and flourishing communities for all.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
That was a statement that was made at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum of 13 here in Baku, on behalf of Faith Pavilion, call to action on housing.
It was delivered by Christopher Alizara Faith of Cities.
The full text of the statement can be also available on the official website of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.
Habit.org slash media.
It is also available on the facevcities.org website.
Thank you very much for your attention.
The stakeout session is over.