The Shift (incubated initiative)

CUI is proud to be a lead partner and incubator of The Shift.

The Shift is the global movement to secure the right to housing, recognizing the global housing crisis as the most significant social issues facing cities around the world. The Shift functions as a critical platform for uniting diverse actors across the globe who share a common goal: to combat the financialization of housing and implement the human right to housing. The Shift is led by Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, in partnership with United Cities Local Government and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Canadian Urban Institute. The Shift team includes lawyers, campaigners, filmmakers, community advocates, journalists and researchers.

Together, The Shift and CUI are leading a working group of municipal officials in cities across Canada focused on housing and homelessness during COVID-19. Through this initiative, our organizations are supporting local governments to ‘build back better’ and implement housing policies that ensure that the most vulnerable in our communities have access to secure, adequate and affordable housing during and after the pandemic.