EXPERTISE AND ACTION FOR A MORE HUMAN WORLD
The Shift uses the human rights framework to fight housing commodification. We collaborate globally to end homelessness, address climate impacts, and create better housing policies.
OUR WORK
Finance & Housing
The financialization of housing has turned homes into wealth-generating assets, prioritizing profit over people’s right to housing. We research and expose how financial actors impact housing affordability, while developing policy solutions and working with cities to protect housing from predatory investment practices.
Homelessness & Encampments
Approximately 1.8 billion people around the world are homeless or live in grossly inadequate housing, often without access to basic services like water, sanitation, and electricity. Homelessness is not inevitable – it’s the result of policy choices and systemic failures to protect housing rights.
We collaborate with governments, advocates, and unhoused communities to develop rights-based responses to homelessness and encampments, while pushing for long-term solutions that prevent homelessness and housing precarity.
Climate
The climate and housing crises are inextricably linked — with the financialization of housing leading to greater greenhouse gas emissions, while driving up rents and increasing housing costs.
We’re developing solutions that tackle both crises at their shared root through partnerships with cities and climate organizations.
Accountability
Making housing systems work as intended requires clear accountability and enforcement. We hold governments, investors, and businesses accountable to their human rights obligations through strategic interventions and rights-based frameworks. Our research exposes systemic failures, while our advocacy ensures those with power uphold their responsibilities to protect the most vulnerable.
OUR SERVICES
Our global partnerships and deep expertise make us the leading authority on rights-based housing transformation. Whether you’re a government official seeking policy guidance, an investor looking to create social value and protect the communities you serve, or an organization fighting for housing rights, we deliver concrete solutions that create lasting change.
Contact us to learn more about our services.
