Leilani Farha Receives International Housing and Community Development Award 

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is pleased to announce that Leilani Farha of Ottawa, Canada is the 2022 recipient of the International Research and Global Exchange Award. An award presentation was held on Sept. 23 at the NAHRO National Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, Calif.   

Farha is a seasoned lawyer who has devoted her professional life to alleviating poverty and expanding human rights for marginalized groups.  She is especially committed to securing the human right to a place to live in security and dignity, both domestically in Canada and internationally.  

To her colleagues and the world, Farha is known as a dynamic and effective advocate.  She has researched, written and published on various human rights and housing rights issues, and delivered addresses in forums around the world.  She is the Global Director at The Shift, a movement to claim and realize the basic human right to housing.  She also served from 2014-2020 as the United Nations special rapporteur on adequate housing and was instrumental in Canada’s adoption of the UN Resolution that homelessness was a violation of human rights. 

“Leilani’s exceptional expertise has allowed her to make great strides in addressing human rights and housing issues,” NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele said. “Her accomplishments are far reaching and show that international collaboration is vital to ensuring all have equal access to safe, affordable, decent housing.” 

About the John D. Lange Memorial Award  

Established in 1983 as the John D. Lange International Award, in the name of NAHRO’s Executive Director from 1951 to 1970, and now simply the NAHRO International Award, the International Committee recognizes a person in the housing and community development field who has made an outstanding contribution toward international understanding and exchange of international experience.