The 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, highlighted housing as a critical economic crisis, with global leaders emphasizing its role in economic stability and growth.

• Experts revealed that housing affordability is now a major factor in elections worldwide and significantly impacts productivity, migration, and public finance.
• The UN-Habitat Director stated that housing is no longer just a social issue but a strategic system issue requiring a coalition-based response involving governments, the private sector, and civil societies.
• World Bank Group's Global Director noted that housing investment and consumption account for about 15% of global GDP, directly translating into jobs, and stressed the need to improve policies that increase financing to the sector to boost unit supply.