Ten housing initiatives from across the world have been named winners of the 2026 World Habitat Awards. The awards, run by World Habitat in partnership with UN-Habitat, recognise innovative, people-centred and sustainable solutions to acute housing need.
This year’s gold, silver, and bronze winners work in a wide range of places—from cities to rural areas, including communities recovering from crisis or disaster—and their work includes both specific projects and efforts to create long-term change.
Together, they address homelessness, poverty, protect cultural heritage, and build community resilience to conflict and climate change.
The Gold World Habitat Award winners
In the Czech Republic, The Platform for Social Housing was awarded gold for its central role in transforming the country’s homelessness policy and practice. By supporting Housing First programmes in more than 20 cities and shaping legislation, funding frameworks and professional standards, the Platform demonstrates how direct housing delivery and long-term systems change can work together to address homelessness on a national scale.
In Palestine, the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee has won gold for its long-term housing and heritage regeneration initiative. It has restored more than 1,400 historic stone buildings and housed nearly 12,000 people. Through ‘holistic custodianship’, this project has enabled displaced Palestinian families to return to safe, legally protected homes, while safeguarding cultural heritage, revitalising markets and public spaces, and supporting the Old City’s UNESCO World Heritage status.
Silver World Habitat Award winners
In the United Kingdom, Greater Change was recognised for its highly personalised, trust-based approach to ending homelessness. By providing flexible grants that address individual needs – from rent deposits to training, healthcare and more – Greater Change has helped the majority of clients move into stable accommodation, while delivering significant savings to the public purse.
The community-led, in-situ redevelopment of the Sanjaynagar informal settlement in Ahmednagar, India, led by the Community Design Agency, also received a silver award. The project has delivered climate-resilient, dignified homes with resident involvement at all stages of design and development. The initiative provides an alternative to traditional redevelopment, which, by moving people away from their communities, often severs connections to livelihoods, social networks and culture.
Bronze World Habitat Award winners
In China, the Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tsinghua University (THAD) received a bronze award for the regeneration of Taihe Old Town Historic and Cultural Block in Sichuan Province. Through its systematic approach to cultural heritage conservation and regeneration, it has preserved historic buildings while improving living conditions, infrastructure and economic opportunities, thereby encouraging residents to return, revitalising the community.
In France, Hameaux Légers – or Lightweight Hamlets – was recognised for its pioneering model of lightweight, environmentally responsible rural housing. Built on public land and protected from speculation, the homes, which can be moved or dismantled, provide long-term affordability while meeting strict environmental standards.
In Spain, the Les Juntes housing cooperative in L’Hospitalet, Catalonia, was recognised for upholding the right to housing, by communally converting properties formerly owned by banks into cooperative homes for people facing eviction or housing insecurity. Residents include undocumented migrants and female-headed households, collaborating with fellow cooperative members through an assembly-based decision-making system, and mutual support system.
In Myanmar, Social Enterprise Housing NOW was awarded for its low-cost, low-carbon bamboo housing for people displaced by conflict and climate disasters. The community-led approach builds local skills and enables people to construct and strengthen their own homes in difficult-to-access settings.
In the United States, Mutual Housing California with Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento was awarded for Cornerstone. This mixed-income affordable housing development in South Sacramento was recognised for preventing homelessness through long-term affordability, strong partnerships and community development centred on residents’ needs.
In Vanuatu, CARE’s ‘Build Back Safer’ project stood out to the judges for empowering communities – particularly women – to lead safer reconstruction after devastating cyclones. Through training, shelter kits and community leadership, the project has strengthened resilience in remote island communities affected by increasingly severe climate crisis impacts.
David Ireland, CEO of World Habitat said “Although this year’s winners span very different contexts, they are united by a commitment to people, community and sustainability. Each project offers innovations and practical lessons that can be adapted to work elsewhere. We’re looking forward to supporting our new partners to strengthen, promote and transfer these solutions, so that more people in housing need can have a safe and secure home.”
