Better Shelter: A Place to Belong

​Housing is more than shelter; it is safety, dignity and belonging. Too often, affordable housing is seen as a financial challenge before we recognise the human need it serves. And in many humanitarian responses, affordability is the barrier. In this session, stories from people who have received shelter invite us to look beyond walls and roofs to what truly creates belonging.

​We will look at why localisation and community-led interventions are essential for temporary and lasting shelter, and how approaches shaped by local knowledge strengthen both resilience and social cohesion. Drawing on the experience of Better Shelter, a Swedish nonprofit foundation that has delivered almost 100,000 shelters to 90 countries, we will explore how dignified, adaptable housing can support people in crisis.

​Together, we will challenge misconceptions, connect with the people behind the numbers and consider how empathy, guided by local leadership, can inspire smarter investments and stronger systems of care.

​Action Speaks was founded by Ingka Group and is curated in collaboration with partners.