International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

 

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

  The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 37/221 of 20 December 1982, in which it proclaimed the year 1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on measures and activities to be undertaken prior to and during the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, Taking note also of Economic and Social Council decision 1983/169 of 25 July 1983, Convinced that special efforts need to be made by countries and the international community in order to reverse the chronic deterioration in the shelter and living conditions suffered by the majority of the poor in urban and rural settlements, especially in developing countries, Convinced also that national programmes and demonstration projects for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless should be launched as soon as possible, since most of the action and resources for the Year will be required at the national and local levels, Noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions and pledges that Governments have so far made for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless,

1. Welcomes and endorses the overall plans for the activities before, during and after the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless and the priorities for national and international action during 1983-1984 contained in the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to the Commission on Human Settlements at its sixth session;

2. Calls upon all Governments, especially those of developing countries, to give renewed political commitment and priority to the improvement of shelter and neighbourhoods of the poor and allocate the resources necessary to meet the objectives of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless;

3. Endorses the proposals contained in the annex to the present resolution on national action needed before April 1984 in order to launch the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless quickly and effectively;

4. Urges all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other interested intergovernmental, non-governmental and national institutions to make special efforts through existing and new programmes, including those aimed at involving public-opinion leaders and large groups of the population, to help achieve the objectives of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless;

5. Appeals to all Governments, especially those of developed countries and others in a position to do so, and to international financial institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to provide effective financial and other support for the programme for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.

ANNEX National action needed before April 1984 for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless 1. Most of the action and resources for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless will be required at the national and local levels. The programme for the Year must be launched quickly and effectively, so that most of the demonstration projects can be completed or be at a stage where results can be evaluated by late 1986. 2. The following national action should be undertaken by countries before the seventh session of the Commission on Human Settlements, to be held in April 1984:

(a) Establish national focal points for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless;

(b) Assess the existing situation and future needs;

(c) Begin implementation of demonstration projects for the Year.

A. Establishment of national focal points for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless 3. All interested countries should designate, as soon as possible, a national focal point for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.Although there should be a specific person as a contact point, the national focal point could be an existing agency or a new unit or national committee, including representatives of relevant agencies and non-governmental organizations, specifically established to stimulate and co-ordinate national and local action. 4. Although the functions of national focal points for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless will vary from country to country, they could include:

(a) Receiving, producing and exchanging information on the programme and plans for the Year, on relevant activities in other countries and other programme support information;

(b) Developing a national strategy and programme for the Year, including the identification and selection of appropriate demonstration projects;

(c) Encouraging close working relationships with and among non-governmental and community organizations on their projects, plans and possibilities relevant to the Year;

(d) Stimulating and co-ordinating local and national activities and projects for the Year;

(e) Organizing relevant meetings, seminars and training courses;

(f) Reporting periodically on the progress and achievements of activities and projects for the Year in the particular country.

B. Assessment of the existing situation and future needs 5. In launching a national programme for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless and before the actual selection of specific demonstration projects, countries should undertake at least a preliminary assessment of the existing situation, taking into account the following questions:

(a) What are the size, distribution and characteristics of the target group in quantitative (for example, those below the poverty line in urban and rural areas) and qualitative terms (for example, access to drinking water, sanitation services, transportation, food, education, energy)?

(b) What previous and existing programmes, or parts of programmes, have successfully provided affordable improvements in the shelters and neighbourhoods of the poor, and how can they best be extended? Why have other programmes failed to do so?

(c) What national and local resources (money, land, labour, materials)are available and needed to improve the shelters and neighbourhoods of the target group? Are there obstacles to the full use of local resources?

(d) What changes are needed in existing programmes, policies and legal, institutional and financing arrangements in order to accelerate the provision of affordable shelter for the poor?

(e) What, based on the answers to the above questions, are the priorities within the national programme for demonstration projects during the Year?

C. Beginning of the implementation of demonstration projects for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless 6. Demonstration projects for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless should test and demonstrate new approaches to basic problems in urban and rural areas, such as providing or improving shelter; providing improved drinking water supply, sanitation and waste disposal; generating jobs in the formal or informal construction sector; improving environmental and health conditions and services; upgrading infrastructure and services for the poor, including roads, public transportation, energy, and medical, social, educational and recreational facilities; and providing low-cost building techniques and materials, especially through more widespread use of indigenous methods, skills and construction materials. 7. In addition to projects of a physical character, the national programme and project for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless should include the review and strengthening of policy, legislative, organizational and financial measures to assist the poor in improving their shelter and neighbourhoods. Areas of special concern might be legislation on land and tenure; building codes and regulations; financing, including credit and loans for shelter for the poor; and institutional arrangements within and between national and local authorities. 8. In order to meet the objectives for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, countries should take the following guidelines into account in the design, selection, implementation and monitoring of demonstration projects for the Year:

(a) Projects must explore, test and demonstrate existing or new ways and means of improving the shelter and neighbourhoods of the poor and disadvantaged, particularly those below the poverty line in urban and rural settlements;

(b) Projects must contribute to or result in a clear and visible improvement in the shelter or neighbourhoods of at least some of the poor and disadvantaged before 1987;

(c) Projects must be replicable, in order for them to reach many more of the poor and disadvantaged, leading to affordable improvements for many rather than major improvements for a few;

(d) Projects must seek a practical balance between what is desirable (in terms, for example, of basic health requirements and structural safety), attainable (technically and administratively, and using local skills, methods and materials), and affordable by the poor themselves and the nation as a whole.

D. Progress report 9. In order that all countries may be informed on the existing situation, priority concerns and activities and plans for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in other countries, prior to the seventh session of the Commission on Human Settlements, in April 1984, the national focal points for the Year should submit to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements(Habitat):

(a) A brief overview (maximum two pages in length) of their national plans, priorities and activities for the Year, including information responding to the questions in paragraph 5 above;

(b) A one-page summary for each of the national demonstration projects for the Year launched to date, according to a common format to be prepared by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat).