Towards Sustainable Cities and Communities: Paradoxes of Inclusive Social Housing Strategies

Abstract

Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, and resilient implies addressing numerous interdependent — often conflicting — sustainability demands. A paradoxical approach to these demands suggests finding synergies among these conflicts in order to achieve successful sustainable outcomes. Drawing on participatory action research (PAR), we highlight specific synergies and possible unintended consequences of efforts associated with meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities.” The context of this research is energy interventions by social housing associations in the Netherlands. This context highlights the overlap and interaction of complex challenges, such as increasing poverty, refugee shelters, and aging population. We identify and explain four sustainability paradoxes: planning, involvement, impact, and performance. The understanding of these paradoxes can inform organizations and urban planners’ strategic choices for environmental and social interventions. With this chapter, we join the debate on the unsustainability of sustainability efforts in urban planning, suggesting that the recognition of these paradoxes can help to mitigate the risk of unintended consequences.