For the United Nations Sustainable Cities Initiative, Goal #11 is sustainable cities and communities.
For Baltimore, the indicators identified by the University of Baltimore to date for this goal are as follows:
Number of Days with Air Quality Index "Good"
A measurement of how many days Baltimore has the AQI categorized as "good." The larger number of days with AQI "good," the better air quality city residents enjoy.
Number of Affordable Housing Units
A measurement of how many housing units are affordable for households of different income groups and ownership status. A greater the number of affordable housing units the more housing is affordable to Baltimore residents.
Housing and Transportation Cost as a Percentage of Income
A measurement of the share of a household's monthly income that is spent on housing and transportation. The less households spend on housing and transportation, the more they have to purchase other items.
Percentage of Households Commuting More than 45 Minutes
A measurement of the percentage of workers who commute at least 45 minutes one way to get to work. A strong correlation exists between neighborhoods in which a large percentage of workers commute at least 45 minutes and neighborhoods showing signs of distress such as unemployment and poverty and the life expectancy.
Percentage of Residential Properties That Are Vacant or Abandoned
The percentage of residential properties that have been classified as being vacant and abandoned by the Baltimore City Department of Housing out of all properties. Properties are classified as being vacant and abandoned if: the property is not habitable and appears boarded up or open to the elements; the property was designated as being vacant prior to the current year and still remains vacant; and the property is a multi-family structure where all units are considered to be vacant.
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Goal 11 Global Targets
11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
11.2 By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.
11.3 By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
11.4 Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
11.5 By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
11.8 Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
11.9 By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
Learn more about this goal via the United Nations.