The SHIFT

The Shift is a global movement dedicated to establishing housing as a fundamental human right rather than a commodity or investment vehicle. Founded in 2017 by Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, The Shift operates in partnership with United Cities Local Government and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The organization addresses the worldwide housing crisis by challenging housing financialization, working to end homelessness, preventing evictions, and advocating for affordable housing. Their approach connects housing issues with climate change, noting that real estate development contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions while driving up housing costs. The Shift brings together diverse stakeholders including governments, legislators, human rights institutes, urban planners, grassroots groups, artists, philanthropists, and NGOs from cities across all continents. Their initiatives include developing investor guidelines for human rights-based housing investment, creating The Shift Directives to combat housing financialization, and implementing the Shift Cities project to operationalize housing rights at the local level. The organization has contributed to housing legislation and accountability mechanisms at national, regional, and city levels in countries like Canada, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Through research, advocacy, and policy development, The Shift aims to transform the global conversation around housing from viewing it primarily as an asset class to recognizing it as a social good essential for dignity, family life, and community participation.