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And the winners of the 2010 cycle of the World Habitat Awards are...

• Community Programme for Neighbourhood Improvement, MEXICO
  A community initiated neighbourhood improvement programme using a participatory approach to improving public spaces in informal settlements and low-income neighbourhoods.

• Housing for Health Programme, AUSTRALIA
  Improving the health of Indigenous Australians by ensuring access to safe and well functioning homes and an improved living environment.

The Awards will be presented to the two winners at the UN-HABITAT global celebration of World Habitat Day in Aguascalientes, Mexico on Monday, 3rd October 2011.

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We would also like to congratulate the eight outstanding finalists:

• Federal Housing & Habitat Improvement for Indigenous and Rural People, ARGENTINA
  Working with indigenous groups and low-income rural households to provide improved housing and infrastructure and promote sustainable livelihoods.

• La Cité de la Pierre, BELGIUM
  Preservation and renovation of ex quarry workers’ dwellings for social housing provision, following a campaign led by the local community.

• GLOBE Community Champions Program, CANADA
  Community champions work with fellow residents to reduce energy consumption and utility costs through simple behavioural and attitudinal changes.

• Post-earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in Da Ping Village, CHINA
  Post-earthquake reconstruction of a village using a socially and environmentally sustainable approach to improving housing, infrastructure, sanitation and livelihoods.

• Dissemination of passive solar housing in the Indian Himalayas, INDIA
  Establishing the conditions for sustainable scaling-up of passive solar housing technologies and improving winter livelihoods in the Indian Himalayas.

• Home improvement in depressed neighbourhoods of Antananarivo, MADAGASCAR
  Establishing a savings and micro-credit scheme enabling low-income families in Antananarivo to access adequate housing and sanitation.

• Rental Mediation Programme, SPAIN
  Providing rental guarantees and mediation between property owners and vulnerable individuals previously excluded from the private rental market.

• 990 Polk Street, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  Providing safe, affordable housing with support services for a diverse group of formerly homeless and low-income older persons.

For further information on the winners and finalists, please click on the links above or visit the World Habitat Awards website.

World Habitat Day

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day is ‘Cities and Climate Change.’

Find out more:

• World Habitat Awards
• World Habitat Day 2011
• Follow the World Habitat Awards on Facebook and Twitter

*Note: Submissions are currently being accepted for the 2011 cycle of the World Habitat Awards. The deadline for submission is 1st November 2011 and entrants will be notified of the results of Stage I by December 2011. To make a submission please click here.