A/HRC/10/7 page 24 82. The global economic crisis, and even recession in many countries, may result in a reduction in income for some sectors of the population, thus making affordable housing even more necessary. Therefore States should take promptly all measures needed to increase the availability of adequate housing options. 83. States should support access to adequate housing by measures such as promoting alternatives to private mortgage and ownership-based housing systems, and develop new financial mechanisms that can ensure the improvement of the living and housing conditions for the majority of the world’s population, which has not been well served by existing mechanisms. They should not reduce State expenditure on housing. On the contrary, public funding for housing and construction of public housing will need to increase in order to address the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable. 84. In some countries, homeownership has been traditionally seen as the safest form of tenure and rental tenure has been less secure, with a greater potential for eviction. Recent events clearly show that homeownership is a secure form of tenure only under certain circumstances, in particular when there are adequate, sustainable and stable financial means to achieve it. Rental tenure could be made more secure with appropriate legislation to protect tenants against abusive evictions, as well as to expand access to affordable, controlled and subsidized rent mechanisms. 85. States must ensure that financial institutions and regulation take account of the vulnerabilities and limited repayment capacities of low-income households. Financial services for low-income groups must be developed in consultation with these groups, as they are best able to assess their repayment capacity and ensure the development of systems that effectively meet their needs. 86. States must acknowledge that markets alone are unable to achieve adequate housing for all. Effective regulation and close monitoring by the State of private sector activities, including financial and building companies, is required. 87. In some situations, States should consider intervening in the market, for instance through equitable land-use policies, public financing and housing provision, appropriate rent regulation and reinforcement of legal security of tenure. Enshrining in relevant legislation the right to adequate housing will help in ensuring an appropriate role for the State in the housing sector. 88. States should take mitigating measures to lessen the impact of foreclosures and the crisis, for instance in cases of tenant eviction due to foreclosure or because of unpaid rents due to the economic crisis. In particular, States should make every effort to prevent homelessness which pushes households into inadequate housing and has a detrimental impact on the enjoyment of other human rights by individuals, families and communities, including their access to education, work and an adequate standard of living. 89. States should ensure appropriate regulation of international financial activities in order to avoid future financial crises and their subsequent effect on human rights and adequate housing.