When global real estate practitioners think about global cities, their thoughts typically skew toward the luxury end of the spectrum or lucrative commercial development projects. While these are vital elements of urban economic growth, there’s another side of the coin that’s too often ignored—the plight of urban poverty.

Every city faces different advantages and challenges, but they all share a responsibility to provide every resident access to a city’s amenities, services and opportunities. The most vulnerable urban citizens—roughly 1 billion people living in slums—often lack access to a city’s most basic services, such as clean water.

With urban populations expected to rise dramatically, it becomes even more important to include low-income segments in the growth planning process. It’s not simply a matter of “doing the right thing.” There’s also strong evidence that smart, inclusive policies can generate win-win results for the city at large, making them better and safer places to live.

Taking Up the Challenge

IHC Global Coalition for Inclusive Housing and Sustainable Cities (previously the International Housing Coalition) is one organization dedicated to giving voice to the most pressing issues standing in the way of shared prosperity and sustainability in cities. Formed in 2005 by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), IHC Global now includes 32 organizations. As it expands its efforts to embrace a global agenda, membership has also been opened to individual supporters.

Key themes for IHC Global are: Inclusiveness is necessary for cities to thrive A shared vision for their city among private sector, non-profits, local governments and communities is important to its future Inequality can be reduced when all residents have access to the amenities, services and opportunities of the city Adequate housing is a critical element in reducing inequality and making cities safer, better places to live Major barriers to inclusion can be overcome

Success Stories

Members of IHC Global include concerned, action-oriented people, businesses and organizations. The group identifies and illuminates the issues, shares information about steps being taken globally (not limited to actions by IHC Global members), and shares actionable information with all stakeholders. Success stories include:

Sanitation – In Haiti, a small business has stepped in to train and employ unskilled workers to collect recyclable solid waste. It pays the workers a wage for this work and recycles the plastics and other materials for other uses, thereby also earning a return on their investment in sophisticated recycling equipment.

Affordable, decent housing – In the U.S. state of Maryland (Montgomery County), an innovative mandatory inclusionaryzoning law provides a density bonus allowance to builders providing affordable housing. The program has been modified in various ways since it began in 1976, resulting in over 11,000 units developed for renters and first-time homebuyers with moderate incomes.

Hunger and nutrition – In Africa, some success has been found in peri-urban vegetable growing. The agriculture is aimed both for the local markets as well as to supplement nutrition of the growers.

“The challenges we face can be daunting, but the successes are also encouraging,” explains Judith Hermanson, PhD, President and CEO of IHC Global. “Our agenda stresses the importance of comprehensive planning that engages with all community members and drives equitable investment from both the government and the private sector. IHC Global is committed to the idea that inclusiveness benefits everyone!”

To learn more about IHC Global’s activities, visit ihcglobal.org.