Ensuring affordable and adequate housing in Lebanon remains a significant challenge. Here at the Housing Department, we see the reality of this crisis daily. The Lebanese state has historically placed housing under market control. It has abandoned its social responsibility in providing affordable options. The only policy in place was loans for homeownership. Those loans stopped with Lebanon’s economic crisis.
The situation is dire. Rental costs and housing services can consume 85% of a Beirut family’s income. It can reach 100% in the most vulnerable neighborhoods. This occurs alongside income loss and severe inflation. The Beirut port explosion further exacerbated the crisis. The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria also had a serious impact on the safety of buildings in Lebanon.
Lebanon acceded to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1972. This obliges the state to report on the housing situation. Shockingly, Lebanon only submitted two reports, in 1993 and 2015. This lack of reporting highlights the state’s failure to address the crisis.
Public Works Studio sought to fill this gap. They analyzed 163 cases reported to the Housing Monitor hotline. These cases revealed several critical issues. A large percentage of cases suffered from the absence of legal security. Many cases faced inadequate living conditions. Many others struggled with escalating housing costs. A Public Works Studio report showed that 74.2% lacked minimum legal security. Also, 65.6% faced inadequate living conditions. Moreover, 67.5% struggled with escalating housing costs.
The report highlighted other violations. These included a lack of basic services and exposure to pollution. Social and cultural discrimination was also rampant. The needs of the elderly and disabled were often ignored. The Public Works Studio report indicated that 60.1% lacked basic services. Also, 70.6% faced exposure to pollution and real estate speculation. Moreover, 96.3% experienced social and cultural discrimination. Finally, 27.3% faced ignorance of the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities.
This report advocates for a comprehensive right to housing law in Lebanon. Local and international action is necessary to make this law a reality.
Since Lebanon’s independence in 1943, the state has failed to develop public policy for basic social needs. This includes housing. Legislation focused on rent control. These steps have not grown into broader housing policies. Informal neighborhoods have spread across Lebanon as a result.
During Fouad Chehab’s presidency, the state established housing institutions. However, these institutions lacked a comprehensive strategy. The civil war further weakened state institutions. After the war, private sector interests were strengthened. The state dismissed its responsibility to ensure the right to housing.
The state ushered in a neoliberal phase. This phase prioritized investment promotion. Successive governments facilitated real estate investment. Lending policies were established to encourage homeownership. However, most of the population could not afford these loans. Empty high-rise buildings replaced historical neighborhoods. These loans ultimately stopped.
Immediately after the civil war, the rent control system was suspended. Public institutions concerned with housing were abolished. The Ministry of Housing and Cooperatives was dissolved in 2000. Currently, these factors have rapidly exacerbated the housing crisis.
As you can see, the situation is complex. The Housing Department is dedicated to working toward solutions. We strive for laws, programs, and practices that ensure affordable and adequate housing for all.