more than 1,600 people participated in the 4th Housing Forum n May 2021, Habitat for Humanity Latin ministers and national housing authorities One of the main topics was how America and the Caribbean held the fourth from Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, to refurbish and reuse empty or I edition of the Housing Forum, the only Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, and Argentina; abandoned city buildings that multi-stakeholder forum in the region that the city mayors of Guatemala City, Cuenca seeks to reimagine and build a new reality for in Ecuador, and Montevideo in Uruguay; six already have access to water and housing and cities. business leaders of projects focusing on sanitation services, creating more improving housing deficits Hilti Foundation, For a week, Habitat brought together Whirlpool, Gerdau, Dow, CEMEX and Somfy; secure housing opportunities. government authorities, international representatives of 11 multilateral agencies organizations, local governments, Economic Commission for Latin America Proposals to generate innovative solutions for universities, private companies, investors, and the Caribbean, UN-Habitat, International improving housing access, such as rentals, banks, civil society organizations, Finance Corporation – a member of the World were also emphasized. Sustainable housing and community leaders, professionals, and Bank Group, Inter-American Development cities were a priority topic. students to share experiences, lessons Bank, Central American Bank for Economic learned, and trends and challenges in Integration, Latin American Development New infrastructure and housing financing housing and urban habitat. Bank, USAID, European Union, Forum of schemes were highlighted, including the Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Cities Investment Facility presented by UN- 1,639 people from more than 40 Housing and Urban Development of Latin Habitat, Infonavit’s self-construction financing America and the Caribbean, the Central programs, outcome-focused financing countries joined the event. American Secretariat for Social Integration, mechanisms such as the Social Impact Bonds, and Cities Alliance. and financial policies and mechanisms that The event sessions were led by more than combine public and private sector participation 230 speakers, including the President and The event demonstrated agreement in trends with communities and housing beneficiaries. the First Lady of Costa Rica, and seven and needs for advancement in the region. PAGE. 40 habitat.org/lac