This discussion will focus on low- and middle-income countries hit hard by the pandemic, coinciding with the release of a Habitat report that makes the case for investing in housing to promote economic and social recovery in emerging economies. Panelists will focus on new evidence that the housing sector can stimulate economies – even more so than official statistics indicate. Development agencies, governments, the private sector and other key players in emerging market economies should take notice. During the discussion, which takes place on World Habitat Day, panelists also will address how valuable healthy, adequate homes have been during the pandemic, including for families who have taken out microloans to improve their homes.
Learn more about Habitat’s report here: [ Ссылка ].
This conversation is part of an ongoing series about housing hosted by Habitat for Humanity. The +You series brings together experts from across the U.S. and around the world to discuss COVID-19’s intersections with, and impacts on, housing.
You can find a transcript of the video here: [ Ссылка ].
Participants:
• Debra Erb, managing director of Housing Real Estate Project Finance at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
• Marja Hoek-Smit, director of the International Housing Finance Program of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center
• Dhaval Monani, founder and managing director of First Home Realty Solutions Pvt. Ltd and a pioneer of the affordable housing space in India
• Patrick Kelley, vice president of Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter
