Urban Poverty Causes, Current Trends, Consequences, and Pathways to Sustainable Solutions

Urban poverty is a widespread and persistent social problem globally, characterized by complex and multifaceted negative consequences for human life. It affects millions of individuals and families, leading to a cycle of deprivation and hardship that is difficult to break. In 2015, the United Nations dedicated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 to “End poverty in all its forms everywhere.” Despite this commitment and several initiatives, urban poverty remains pervasive, evolving in its trends and continuing its vicious cycle in new forms. This paper examines the causes and consequences of urban poverty, recent trends, and the effects on several SDGs. It also provides policy recommendations for sustainable solutions focused on achieving SDGs. Findings reveal that the primary drivers of urban poverty include economic inequality, high living costs, lack of skills and job opportunities, insufficient affordable housing, and rural–urban migration. Moreover, urban poor individuals face numerous social and humanitarian challenges, indicating a slower pace in achieving SDGs related to urban poverty. The study found that, after many years of pursuing SDGs, the urban poor still struggle with inadequate drinking water, limited healthcare access, substandard housing, educational deprivation, poor sewerage and drainage systems, and safety concerns. Additionally, these individuals suffer from malnutrition and various diseases due to living in unsanitary and overcrowded slum conditions. Unfortunately, to escape this poverty trap, they often borrow money, which they struggle to repay, exacerbating their financial plight. This paper argues that policymakers and government authorities must revisit urban poverty with comprehensive solutions that address its multifaceted nature, focusing on SDGs and their targets. Urgent and long-term initiatives should focus on enhancing social welfare systems, creating jobs, providing access to training and vocational education, healthcare facilities, affordable housing programs, and developing skills through the use of information and communication technology. Moreover, empowering underprivileged urban communities and fostering community engagement is crucial for achieving significant and enduring reductions in urban poverty and making a sustainable and resilient city.