'Housing for All': Hollywood icon Richard Gere's call to end homelessness

By Nadira Tudor Published on 28/05/2026 - 16:10 GMT+2•Updated 16:45 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp

Richard Gere is one of the world’s most recognised and respected actors. But away from the big screen, he is active in bringing the crisis of global housing to light by partnering with the United Nations.

The focus in Baku at the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) was not on red carpets and film premieres, but on showcasing a documentary film on homelessness. Featuring Latyr Thioye, who is a former user of HOGAR SÍ - the programme set-up by none other than Hollywood icon Richard Gere and his philanthropist wife Alejandra.

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Gere explains why he is so passionate about championing UN-Habitat and his personal involvement with HOGAR SÍ.

“My motivation for working with HOGAR SÍ stems from a personal conviction: homelessness is not inevitable – it is a social injustice that can be solved through a deep shift in understanding and approach”, he says.

“My wife Alejandra and I have been working with HOGAR SÍ for over ten years and have been able to closely follow its development and progress. In 2024, we joined the organisation’s board of trustees.”

He says he first learnt about the charity through his wife and stresses that HOGAR SÍ are “rigorous and highly committed, focused on respect to human rights and dignity, and driven by evidence-based solutions.”

HOGAR SÍ is an organisation that applies the methodology of “Housing First”, which they note is not dissimilar to other organisations around the world.

Gere adds: “I firmly believe that housing is the gateway to all other rights. Without a safe home, there is no health. No education. No stable employment. When that door closes, the cycle of exclusion becomes almost impossible to break."

The couple are determined to bring international attention to what they deem to be one of the defining humanitarian challenges facing modern cities: homelessness.

At the World Urban Forum, 10 minutes of their hour-long documentary will be presented, by UN-Habitat under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.”

Richard Gere’s involvement with the UN he says, began quite naturally. He was already working on issues related to human rights, dignity, and social development.

“I realised that the United Nations is a key forum to bring certain issues to the global stage and to influence public policy in ways that make a real difference.”

He notes that “from the outset, I felt aligned with its multilateral approach and with the idea that major challenges, such as homelessness or urban inequality, can only be tackled through international cooperation and political will to change things.”

Gere shares with Euronews the UN projects he has worked on which stand out and having made a real impact, and that areas relating to housing, social cohesion and refugees have been long-term initiatives focused on raising the profile of marginalized communities.

“I would highlight the initiatives linked to UN-Habitat and the 2030 Agenda, where the focus on inclusive cities has enabled the sharing of best practices and demonstrated that ending homelessness is possible when access to housing is prioritized as a starting point, rather than as a final reward.”

Gere further shares his view about the host city Baku, and how essential a platform like the World Urban Forum is to rethink the future of our cities at a critical stage.

“Its hosting in Baku is a highly significant opportunity. Cities are home to both the greatest social challenges and the most innovative solutions, and this forum brings together political, social and technical voices around a common goal: to create fairer, more sustainable and inclusive urban environments.”

“It is essential that homelessness is part of this conversation, because there can be no successful cities whilst there are people living on the streets”, he adds.

When asked about the significance of WUF13 being held in Azerbaijan, he shares: “The fact that the World Urban Forum is being held in this region for the first time is an important step towards a truly global and diverse perspective on urban challenges.”

“Each context brings different realities, but also valuable lessons, and decentralizing these spaces for debate is key to avoiding single-minded perspectives.”

He underlines that “it sends a clear message: human rights, housing, and social inclusion are not a regional issue, but a responsibility shared by the entire international community.”

From Hollywood to homelessness

The involvement comes from The Gere Foundation and HOGAR SÍ, which is the Spanish organisation working towards ending homelessness through long-term housing solutions and social initiatives.

The Hollywood star’s work has played a part in his life, parallel to his acting career culminating in decades of advocacy linked with human rights, vulnerable communities and refugees.

Euronews asked Gere if personal experiences have pushed him towards committing to those who are homeless.

“Some years ago, during the filming of my movie 'Time Out of Mind', I was portraying a homeless person. I walked through the streets of New York without anyone recognizing me. And I felt something I had never experienced before: indifference, invisibility, isolation. That experience had a profound effect on me.”

He adds: “Over the years, I have had many conversations with people living on the streets, even somebody I worked with in a film years ago. Listening to stories of lives marked by loss, loneliness, despair, and illness made me realize that unless we have a strong support network (family or friends), any of us can end up in that situation.”

The longevity of Gere's career is impressive and there are few people who do not know the actor's work, from American Gigolo, Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentlemen or Chicago - to name but a few. Nevertheless, he has subsequently devoted a sizeable part of his time on humanitarian causes and helping others in need.

“There wasn’t a single defining moment, but rather a personal journey," he explains. "Over time, I came to understand that the true meaning of a human life lies in being of service to those who cannot be seen or heard."

Advocacy and the future

The Gere Foundation works closely with UN-Habitat and at the centre is HOGAR SÍ – an organisation which argues that homelessness should not be an accepted status-quo or permanent social condition. It also underlines that temporary emergency responses should not be the only solution.

Coming back to his involvement in the World Urban Forum, Gere has played a significant role in the form of a documentary titled What Nobody Wants To See, which featured as part of the Urban Cinema programme. The premise is to explore tensions between realities of city life that are often ignored or not seen.

The coupling of the Geres and UN-Habitat reflects a growing trend between activism, global diplomacy and culture, where celebrities have long-supported humanitarian causes. However, large events like WUF13 are increasingly utilising public figures to relay and reinforce their messages.

When asked about the future of HOGAR SÍ, he says he looks ahead with “hope and conviction”.

“It is a strong organisation, with a clear strategy and the courage to identify and demand structural changes, even when those changes are not easy or uncomfortable.”

He is convinced that HOGAR SÍ will continue to play a key role not only in Spain, but also at a European level. He believes this demonstrates that “homelessness can be solved if it is tackled through evidence-based approaches, institutional collaboration and respect for human dignity.”

He adds: “Eradicating homelessness in Spain in the next years is possible: we are talking about approximately 37,000 people in the whole country, who need a new opportunity, a home.”

One of the messages at the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum in Baku certainly aligned with Gere: housing is not simply about bricks and mortar. It's about the human need for a sense of belonging and having a safe place that everyone can call home.

Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments

Read more

Culture news

Ana Duato’s tax fraud acquittal overturned