The International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (IYSH) was recognized in 1987 by the United Nations. It was first declared, in principle, in UN resolution 36/71[1] in 1981, and proclaimed officially in 1982 in resolution 37/221.[2] It was mainly aimed at improving shelter / housing for the poor in general (and not just homeless people), especially in developing countries. It was also a follow-up to the Habitat I conference in 1976.
Actions
In several countries, national actions were created, such as Australia which created an IYSH Secretariat, or the United Kingdom where a trust was created to collect donations from housing associations for shelter projects in developing countries, with some projects part-funded by the Overseas Development Administration. The trust later evolved into the NGO Homeless International (now operating as Reall, or Real Equity for All).
Legacy
The World Habitat Awards were created by the BSHF as their contribution to the IYSH. Two other prizes were created by the Japan Housing Association as awards to deserving housing projects, the IYSH Memorial Prize in 1988 and the IYSH Memorial Encouragement Prize in 2006.[3]
Number
Year
Memorial Prize
Memorial Encouragement Prize
1
1988
Father Jorge Anzorena[4]
2
1989
Somsook Boonyabancha[4]
3
1990
Arif Hasan and Sister Annie Abion[4]
4
1991
Johan Silas and Enrique Ortiz[4]
5
1992
SPARC[4]
6
1993
Freedom to Build[4]
7
1994
People's Dialogue South Africa[4]
8
1995
Women's Bank and Pagtambayayong Foundation[4]
9
1996
10
1997
11
1998
12
1999
Human Settlements Foundation (Thailand)[4]
13
2000
14
2001
Sevanatha (Sri Lanka)[4]
15
2002
Shack Dwellers Federation Namibia and ASAG Ahmedabad[4]