Through global and regional data, this study seeks to present the scale of the housing cri sis, illustrated by the great number of people living in slums across the world. The study goes on to briefly explain the human rights impacts of development-based displacement and the response that has emerged from UN human rights bodies in the form of glo bal standards like the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-based Displace ment and Evictions. The study then concludes with examples of the myriad uses of these guidelines and the imperative to develop and implement housing and land rights at the lo cal level. Only such an approach will assist in stabilising the lives of millions of the world’s citizens who currently face an uncertain and bleak future.