The global housing affordability crisis has worsened significantly over the past two decades, driven by supply shortages that expanded from 251 million units in 2010 to 288 million in 2023 alongside global price-to-income ratios jumping from 9.5 to 11.7. This escalation is fuelled by rapid urbanization, soaring construction costs, and speculative financial investment, leaving 44% of global renters spending over 30% of their income on housing. The burden falls heavily on vulnerable groups—such as youth, migrants, and low-income households—widening intergenerational wealth gaps and triggering widespread tenure insecurity and displacement anxiety.