The first target of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 states, “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.” Unfortunately, we are way off track to meet this target, with 3 billion people– nearly 40% of the world’s population– set to be living in inadequate housing by 2030.

Housing often falls between the cracks in conversations and decisions about sustainable development. A safe, resilient home is critical for the wellbeing of all people, but in particular for women and children, who typically spend more time at home and are fourteen times more likely to die in a disaster.

Given the above, and the wealth of knowledge and experience gained since the drafting of the SDGs on how to increase access to safe, adequate, resilient housing for all– it is imperative that all relevant stakeholders–ranging from governments to multilaterals to donors, academics and civil society– come together to chart a course for a post-2030 agenda that centers the provision of safe, resilient housing as a focal point of the global development and climate agendas.

Build Change and partners are advocating for the UN to make housing its own SDG as we believe that this will best address the needs of a growing population which is increasingly living in inadequate housing.