Housing - A human right or big business? | Us & Them | DW Documentary

Housing is a recognized human right in Mexico and Canada. But it’s also big business and a major source of conflict in many countries around the world.

In Mexico City, Mary Paz Ramirez Valenzuela’s days in her home of 20 years are numbered. Her landlords can make more money renting their properties to digital nomads through Airbnb than to locals like Mary Paz. Blocks away, travel blogger Kesi Irvin chats with other American digital nomads at her Airbnb about how much more they can afford in Mexico than in big cities back home. In a tense and emotional exchange, Mary Paz tells Kesi that digital nomads are "kicking us out of our spaces" and that it’s their fault she’ll soon be "on the street."

In Vancouver, one of the world’s most desirable - and expensive - places to live, the Indigenous Squamish people are constructing thousands of new apartments. Leader Wilson Williams says the new towers will bring financial security - and housing - for his people, who were driven out of their villages a century ago. But neighbors like Bill Tieleman are campaigning against the towers, even though they admit the city desperately needs more apartments. They argue the ultra-high-density housing projects will destroy the local character and won’t benefit those who need housing most.

#documentary #dwdocumentary #housing #UsandThem

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[DanH-uf]

A nation should provide affordable housing for its working poor.

[somerandomfella]

Good on the natives. They can do what they want with their land.

[ecocodex]

A human right.

Shelter is literally on the bottom layer of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Shelter is something we all NEED, and a place to lay one's head is NOT an investment opportunity for some rich schmuck to exploit other people's labor and income.

[arsenal]

Sometimes I wonder that future of housing is living in a van or camp or a docked boat

[nextgeneration]

The meaning of "home as family" goes beyond just a physical space; it refers to the sense of belonging, love, support, and emotional security that comes from being with those we consider family. It is a place where individuals feel safe, understood, and connected through shared experiences, values, and unconditional care. Home, in this context, is not limited to a house or a location but is defined by the people and relationships that foster a nurturing and affirming environment. It's where one’s identity is rooted and where emotional bonds are strengthened. Let us enjoy our right

[fireguy]

Wow the Mexico City digital nomad lacks any self-awareness or substance to bring to this discussion. Granted, the greater share of culpability lies with the government allowing landlords and investment firms to hoard AirBnB properties, but digital nomads who contribute nothing to their host community nor integrate have no business crowding in cities--especially where their presence is already overly saturated.

[arturogonzalez]

Of course it's a human rights
And many governments and the big corporations should help families with kids to buy homes easier
We're the backbone of the society

[IG]

For the US traveler living in Mexico how do you stomach staying there knowing the older citizens will become homeless in their own country? Seriously this Mexican woman is your future in maybe ten years the way greed in this world. Remember that. All the money you monetize off her sharing her story should be given to her, it’s her story.

[jasonscheepers]

Back then…we all needed a cave…right now…it’s undeniable and has been for centuries that a human needs shelter, privacy and basic needs fulfilled…

[miriamzajfman]

Every big city in Canada facing housing problem ! The culture of B&B made it even worse

[elylioney]

I like the 4-8 story apartment design better. Tall buildings are just isolating.

[hockeyiscanada]

So, the government can't tell the indigenous what to do on their land ? Well then what are they doing letting big business push their way on and through the Wet’suwet’en territory with a pipeline with the help of rcmp and even maybe the army ?

[Zan.Evan.Dawson]

It would be so very wonderful if after watching this a Go fund me or a similarly beneficial legal/financial effort was made to assist the lady being displaced.

What was equally as offensive is providing JUST 250 units for indigenous people relative to the insane number of units proposed in that vertical monstrosity ON NATIVE LAND.

[juliagardner]

Jericho Coalition have an excellent human scale development and hopefully a good percentage of Affordable housing which is desperately needed everywhere!

[antonburdin]

This is not a reconciliation - this is retaliation.

[SebastianCastillohernandez]

the lack of self-awareness of the yank in cdmx is just typical of the "digital nomad" trope.

[SnailNamedGary]

Real estate is one of the reasons for less greenery. In Bali, real estate has ruined the environment.

[SuperTvik]

It’s funny how it’s a glabsl issue almost every country but not many people talk about it

[BrodieChree]

All these ---heads in the comments talking about "paying", "free lunch" and "responsibility" like we aren't literally having people pay with their lives. As a Canadian with Indigenous extended family, wild how all y'all landlords who are "Tut-tut, you gotta pay!" don't put together you gotta PAY for your CRIMES. The gov't of Canada did GENOCIDE on Indigenous people. That's a fact. That's a crime and it is being paid for. And that crime lead those people to be addicted and homeless. These landlord bots are wild. Also, bot programmers, pay for larger context windows. Some of your Landlord Bots are ending with an ellipsis. That's just cheap.

[muhammadakram]

Housing is becoming costlier either to buy or rent, driven by increasing profits of realtors. Only Social Development Organisations can fill this gap and solve homeless crisis somehow.
Thanks DW for touching this complicated issue. ❤❤❤