Founded as the Committee of Non-Governmental Human Settlements Organizations, HIC began its activities in relation to the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat, held in Vancouver, Canada in 1976. In 1987 HIC reorganized itself to better represent its constituency. Since then representatives of the developing countries constitute the majority of the Board of Directors and the emphasis of the work of the organization is in those countries.

The basic objectives of HIC are expressed in Article 2 of its Constitution: The association is devoted to action for the recognition and implementation of the right of everyone to a place in which to live in peace and dignity, both in developing and developed countries. It acts as an international pressure group in defense of the rights of the homeless, the poor and the inadequately housed. It promotes the creation of awareness among the public in general about human settlements problems as well as the exchange of information on these problems and their solutions among its members. It functions as a platform for the formulation of non-governmental organizations policies and strategies in the field of human settlements. It acts as their spokesperson in contacts with international organizations, such as the United Nations Center for Human Settlements and donor agencies.

How does HIC promote these objectives?

The Coalitions works through: campaigns and lobbying efforts, alone or in cooperations with other non-governmental organizations and networks; seminars, conferences and workshops; treaties, statements, reports, newsletters and other study and research materials; support to networks and exchange of information among its members and other non-governmental or community organizations.

For more information, please contact the local point in your region or the executive secretariat.

• EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
  Cordobanes 24
  Col. San Jose Insurgentes
  03900 Mexico D.F.,Mexico
  Tel: +525. 651 68 07
  Fax: +525. 593 51 94
  E-mail: hic@laneta.apc.org

• EUROPE
  ASBL Habitat et Participation
  HIC-Europe Secretariat
  1, Place du Levant
  B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
  BELGIUM
  Tel: +3210. 47 23 14
  Fax: +3210. 47 21 79

• REGIONAL FOCAL POINTS ANGLOPHONE AFRICA
  Mazingira Institute
  P.O.Box 14550, Nairobi, Kenya
  Tel: +2542. 44 32 19
  Fax: +2542. 44 46 43
  E-mail: Mazingira@elci.gn.apc.org

• FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
  Environnement et Developement du Tiers-Monde, ENDA-RUP
  B.P.3370
  Dakar
  SENEGAL
  Tel: +221. 22 09 42
  Fax: +221. 22 26 95
  E-mail: rup@endadak.gn.apc.org

• ASIA
  Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, ACHR HIC-Asia Secretariat
  P.O.Box 24-74
  Bangkok 10240
  THAILAND
  Tel: +662. 538 09 19
  Fax: +662. 539 99 50

• LATIN AMERICA
  Federacion Nacional de Organizaciones Vivienda Popular,
  FEDEVIVIENDA
  Apartado Aereo 57059
  Bogota
  COLOMBIA
  Tel: +571. 245 34 43
  Fax: +571. 287 19 41
  E-mail: fede@colnodo.apc.org

• NORTH AMERICA
  Rooftops Canada Foundation
  2 Berkeley Street, Suite 207
  Toronto, Ontario,
  CANADA M5A 2W3
  Tel: +416. 366 17 11
  Fax: +416. 366 38 76
  E-mail: rooftops@web.apc.org