Closing the Affordable Housing Finance Gap: How Financial Innovations Can Build Housing Security

Every city, country, and region struggles with housing affordability, over-crowdedness, or homelessness. By 2025, the World Bank estimates that 1.6 billion people are expected to be affected by the global housing shortage – and the costs to close the gap are staggering. People without access to safe, secure, and reliable housing are disproportionately un- and under-banked and struggle to access healthcare and job opportunities.

But what are the best ways of securing, structuring, and deploying funding to improve housing security? Current funding models replicate systemic inequities, such as higher-cost financing for traditionally marginalized developers. Yet, innovative financing models exist which can create inclusive and equitable housing opportunities for low-income populations. This session will bring together global leaders to explore the ways that governmental funding, private investments, and philanthropic dollars can be blended to reduce