World Habitat Day – October 4, 2022, history, significance
Homes build lives and strengthen the future; this is exactly the sentiment World Habitat Day celebrates. Held on the first Monday of October each year, on October 4 this year, this day aims to spread knowledge of the basic right to shelter and remind people that they are also responsible for the habitat of future generations.
History of World Habitat Day
It’s been 3 decades since the United Nations General Assembly announced to the world that it is a human right to have a decent place to live. So it was that they created the most important holiday for those without proper homes, World Habitat Day.
Habitat for Humanity works side by side with their global partners to work to provide homes for everyone who needs one, and encouraging people to work towards a better future for themselves and the world.
The story of Habitat for Humanity started in 1976 and has since spread all over the world to bring together volunteers, investors, and businesses to build homes and provide shelter for those in need. Homes give a family a sense of strength, self-reliance, and stability, valuable treasures in an ever-changing world.
Habitat for Humanity has worked closely with the United Nations to continue the fight for proper housing for everyone, and 2016 saw the arrival of the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, aimed at addressing the continuing trend of people moving from rural to urban areas.
This new trend requires new concepts of urbanization to help maintain it in a sustainable way, and Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to seeing the future urban centers be full of decent housing.
WORLD HABITAT DAY TIMELINE
4300–3100 B.C.
A Record of Early Urbanization
The Uruk Period in ancient Mesopotamia shows evidence of large-scale urbanization — this, along with ancient India, ancient China, and ancient Egypt civilizations, are the earliest known examples of ‘cities.’
1950s
The Trend of Urbanization
Less than one-third of the world’s population lives in urban areas — scientists say around two-thirds of the world will likely live in cities by 2030.
1985
Our Day is Born!
The U.N. General Assembly passes Resolution 40/202, establishing World Habitat Day — it starts being celebrated a year after this.
1989
The Most Prestigious Humane Settlements Award
A U.N. agency, U.N.-Habitat, launches a special award called The U.N.-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award — it is given for outstanding contributions in shelter provision, highlighting the plight of the homeless, etc.
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5 FUN FACTS ABOUT WORLD HABITAT DAY
The first celebration
It took place in Nairobi, Kenya, and the theme was “Shelter is My Right.”
A new year, a new theme
The United Nations selects a new theme for World Habitat Day each year based on ongoing habitat-related issues — previous themes include “Shelter for the Homeless (1987),” “Future Cities (1997),” “Women in Urban Governance (2000),” and “Cities and Climate Change (2011).”
55% of the world lives in cities
More than half of the world’s seven billion people call cities and other urban areas home.
Meeting the rising demand
As per global estimates, more than 96,000 thousand housing units will need to be built each year to meet the rising demand.
Estimates for 2050
According to the present trend, urban areas will see an influx of an additional three billion people by 2050.
How to celebrate World Habitat Day
The best way to celebrate World Habitat Day is by getting involved with your local Habitat for Humanity, there is always a need for more hands working to help bring proper housing to those who need it.
Maybe get a group of friends together to volunteer on a particular project being done by Habitat for Humanity, you can have a great time offering skills of every kind. Just because you don’t have the ability to swing a hammer doesn’t mean that you can’t help out this important organization, if nothing else there’s always the option of making a donation to help keep them going.
