Housing, land and property (HLP) issues arise in most crisis situations, in conflict, as well as natural disasters. This is especially the case when a crisis is accompanied by significant displacement or when it occurs in a context with long-standing HLP grievances or challenges. At all times, including at all stages of crisis, affected people should be able to have a home free from the fear of forced eviction, as well as a place that offers shelter and safety and the ability to secure a livelihood. Responses to those issues invariably involve multiple sectors and actors, including those working in the humanitarian, transitional and development fields. Despite the increasing awareness about the importance of analysing and addressing HLP issues, too often the response is hampered by a failure to include HLP issues in planning processes and a lack of financial resources. 



The main objective of this Guidance Note – initiated by the HLP Area of Responsibility and Solutions Alliance and developed in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN-Women and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) – is to identify possible entry points for integrating HLP issues into key planning processes across the humanitarian, transitional and development phases and thereby facilitate due consideration of HLP issues in responses. Following a brief discussion of the importance of considering HLP issues and how to integrate them into ongoing assessments and analysis, five HLP themes are looked at: (a) HLP rights in emergency contexts; (b) HLP in peace processes, peacekeeping and peacebuilding; (c) HLP rights in rule of law and development programming and durable solutions; (d) access to HLP rights for vulnerable groups; and (e) HLP in disaster risk reduction and climate change. Each theme presents a brief overview of relevant planning processes and possible entry points for HLP. This is followed by suggestions on the type of activities that could be undertaken, which may be stand-alone HLP activities or part of other types of programming. In the final section, the Guidance Note outlines how HLP issues can be integrated into existing global funding mechanisms. Since most planning processes discussed in this Guidance Note include a funding mechanism, this section only focuses on key stand-alone funding schemes.



The intended audience of this Guidance Note are any actors involved in responses to crises – particularly UN agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations and civil society actors, national governments and authorities and donors engaging in crises’ response planning and funding processes.