World Habitat Day

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of each October as World Habitat Day. The purpose of the day is to "reaffirm that adequate shelter is a basic human right, and we focus on the housing conditions of cities and towns around the world. We also use this day to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat."
If your response at the moment is one of questioning why this should be of any concern to you, allow me to toss out just a few stats that might help you better understand the urgent need for all of us to jump on board this bandwagon.
* One out of every three city dwellers – nearly a billion people – lives in a slum. (Slum indicators include: lack of water, lack of sanitation, overcrowding, non-durable structures and insecure tenure.) (UN-Habitat: 2006)
* Every week, more than a million people are born in, or move to, cities in the developing world. As a result, the urban population of developing countries will double from 2 to 4 billion in the next 30 years. (Kissick, et al: 2006),
* UN-Habitat has reported that because of poor living conditions, women living in slums are more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than their rural counterparts, and children in slums are more likely to die from water-borne and respiratory illness. (UN-Habitat: 2006)
If your reaction to all this continues to be a feeling of "yeah, so?" let me give you a very positive piece of info, and while you're reading it maybe you could keep in mind the kind of problems that can occur in societies where democracy is only a dream: Communities with transparent systems to meet and sustain basic housing needs are more likely to build the trust and social cohesiveness on which democracy and development are founded. (Kissick, et al: 2006)
Granted, the above data is relevant to the developing world, and that's not us. But Habitat for Humanity does not only carry out its great work in developing countries. I have volunteered at a Habitat build right here in Toronto. It was a great day and I'd recommend one like it to anyone, but if you still feel like you haven't yet seen enough of a reason for you to get involved, let me give you a fact or two directly relevant to us right here in North America.
* The number of low-income families that lack safe and affordable housing is related to the number of children that suffer from asthma, viral infections, anemia, stunted growth and other health problems ... children between the ages of 4 and 9 are hospitalized for asthma attacks each year because of cockroach infestation at home.
* Children in bad housing have a greater chance of suffering mental health and behavioral problems. (Harker: 2006)
In contrast, here's another really positive stat: Children of homeowners are more likely to stay in school and daughters of homeowners are less likely to have children by age 18. (Green and White: 1996)
The reasons to get involved outweigh by so very much any possible reason to hang back. I know sometimes it feels like there's yet another worthy cause waiting for you around every corner, hand outstretched toward your wallet, and you've only got so much you can give, but everybody can at least give some time, or some positive promoting of the cause. Check out the link provided, and maybe you'll find yourself getting all inspired. Nothing but good could come of it.