Homelessness and Affordability: Sharing what works

Join us at the Royal College of Physicians for a day filled with inspiring talks, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities.

It’s estimated that 318 million people are homeless around the world, and the numbers are rising steeply. Yet this is a global problem that can be solved. For 40 years, the World Habitat Awards, in partnership with UN-Habitat, have recognised and celebrated transformative solutions that are successfully ending homelessness.

This year, we're convening a landmark conference bringing together people behind those solutions and some of the world’s leading thinkers to debate what works and chart a course for the future. The day will conclude with a ceremony to celebrate the 2025 World Habitat Awards winners.

Who is the conference for?

• Policymakers at all levels of government
• Social impact investors, funders and philanthropic organisations
• CEOs and senior leaders of homelessness service provision
• Researchers and academics focused on housing and homelessness
• Community leaders, activists and advocates

Confirmed Speakers:

Keynote :

• Kwajo Tweneboa
• Leilani Farha, Global Director of The Shift

Panel Discussions -

• Matt Downie CEO of Crisis
• Susan Aktimel, CEO Homes for Good
• Pim Gregory Head of Homelessness Royal Foundation
• Jess Steele OBE – CEO Hastings Commons
• David Nugent, Canopy Housing
• Geert DePauw - CLTB
• Victoria Hailman - Tawah, Tanzania
• Jude Tisdall - New Ground Cohousing , UK

• Louise Winterburn, World Habitat
• Lígia Teixeira CEO Centre for Homelessness Impact
• Freek Spinnewijn, CEO of Feansta
• Rick Henderson CEO Homeless Link

Why should I attend?

Gain new perspectives: Learn how proven, award-winning projects across the UK, Europe and beyond are successfully addressing homelessness in diverse contexts.

Find out about the latest innovations: Explore current key trends, policies, and cutting-edge innovations in prevention and response.

Shape the future of housing policy: Engage with policymakers, funders, philanthropic leaders, activists and CEOs of homelessness services, to influence the development of effective and sustainable solutions.

Take away practical insights: Learn how to adapt successful approaches into actionable strategies and solutions within your own community or organisation.

Connect and network: Strengthen your work and drive meaningful change alongside key stakeholders, thought-leaders and practitioners from around the world.

Breakout sessions

Award Winning Practice for Preventing Gentrification and Homelessness

• Develop understanding of how other stakeholders, like local government and charitable foundations, can support community ownership strategies
• Takeaway practical tools to apply community-led regeneration principles in your own area with the buy-in of residents
• Gain a greater understanding of financial strategies for community-led initiatives

Women, Housing, and Community: Safe and inclusive models for all ages

• Takeaway strategies for creating safe, supportive and sustainable housing for isolated elders and women seeking independence from traditional care services.
• Learn how women-led initiatives drive community transformation with far reaching impact.
• Understand how to successfully challenge gender and age stereotypes that disempower women.

Lessons from 10 Years of Campaigning and Working in Challenging Contexts to End Homelessness.

• Learn from best-practice examples of driving change in homelessness services within challenging social and political contexts.
• Explore the power of peer networks —especially when working across diverse contexts with shared values and a common vision.

The Private Rented Sector: An untapped source of affordable housing

• Learn from the latest research and development work about the barriers and solutions for the PRS
• Takeaway actionable recommendations for your own work in delivering affordable housing, using the PRS more effectively
• Network with others pushing for change in the PRS and advance your own advocacy work