Habit for Humanity has urged the public to support their call to governments around the world to focus on improve housing conditions.
Following a recent report linking inadequate housing to serious ill health, the charity believes housing should become a priority for all governments.
The World Health Organisation’s report showed that inadequate housing is responsible for more than 100,000 annual deaths in Europe alone, while perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty.
The health consequences of poor housing include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, physical injury, stress and depression, lung cancer, lead poisoning, infections, allergic symptoms and food poisoning.
Habitat for Humanity’s Fundraising Director Mark Collyns shared the example of a Cambodian woman.
"She is HIV positive and living in a home that is infested with woodworm and on the brink of collapse, without access to clean water, sanitation or electricity," he said.
"When it rains the roof leaks and she gets wet and cold. In the rainy season she and her family catch Dengue fever, and in the hot season they suffer from stomach complaints and diarrhoea.
"When she is ill she cannot work. The medicines the family needs are expensive and so the cycle perpetuates.
“The home is absolutely vital to human development and it should be a safe, healthy place.”
Habitat for Humanity works on with families on housing projects in 80 different countries.