Cities with Affordable Housing : Fulfilling the New Urban Agenda

Shelter is a necessity of life and the building block of cities. Cities cannot be inclusive without affordable housing near transportation, jobs, and necessary public services like safety, health care, and education. Housing is the most important asset for the majority of households and anchors economic activity. Urban Agenda provides an opportunity to achieve the overarching Sustainable Development Goals, yet no meaningful implementation of the housing component of the New Urban Agenda is possible without reference to housing finance, which is mentioned briefly and in a cursory fashion. This paper will elaborate on the housing component of the New Urban Agenda and suggest ways to ensure its effective implementation