Housing as a Common Good for Inclusive and Resilient Societies

It is estimated that up to 2.8 million people struggle with inadequate housing worldwide, of which an estimated 318 million are homeless and nearly 1.1 billion people reside in slums and informal settlements, where they often lack adequate access to basic municipal services, such as clean water and sanitation, waste collection, street lighting and electricity, storm water drainage, paved sidewalks, roads, public health facilities, and critical infrastructure for emergency access. From the pandemic to war and fragility, economic uncertainties, and the climate emergency, multiple and compounding crises have disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable urban residents.

Ensuring inclusive and resilient housing is a uniquely complex challenge. It is not only the backbone of a well-functioning and equitable city, but it is also a fundamental human and environmental right. How housing is procured, financed, designed and allocated has significant implications for people’s lives and the environment.

The Council on Urban Affairs (CUI) is comprised of mayors, academics and practitioners to galvanise government action, cross-sectoral investment, and collaboration to drive urban progress on three intersectional themes with a focus on housing: environmental sustainability (the green city), health and well-being (the healthy city), and social justice (the just city). It also draws on the experience of urban and national leaders - representing Barcelona, Bogotá, Mexico City, New Orleans, Gaziantep, Freetown, Singapore and Paraguay.

The need to reinforce inclusive, resilient, and sustainable solutions for adequate urban housing has also been emphasized under the Renewed Social Contract of the UN Secretary-General’s “Our Common Agenda” to accelerate SDG achievement.

Co-organized by UNDP and CUI, this event will bring together diverse and global perspectives from cities and local governments, national governments, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, UN agencies, academia, and international development partners to highlight inclusive, sustainable, and resilient approaches to foster adequate housing for all urban residents that leave no one behind. It will showcase challenges, experiences, best practices, and solutions from cities, local governments, and communities around the world to foment adequate housing, including the provision of basic services, such as clean water, sanitation, drainage, electricity, energy, and other critical infrastructure for urban residents and vulnerable population groups, to improve their livelihoods, health and well-being, and resilience to the current and multifaceted challenges across local and global contexts. This event will also feature sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices of building urban housing, using sustainable materials, designing public spaces, and instilling nature-based solutions to bolster the climate resilience of urban housing communities.