Caring cities to address urban care-related poverty

Unpaid care work is a major contributor to gender inequality and economic hardship, particularly for mothers and single parents. The unequal sharing of responsibilities for childcare, care for older people, and care for people with disabilities often creates “time poverty”, limiting opportunities for paid employment, education, and social participation. This can contribute directly to financial insecurity and increased risk of poverty, especially among single-parent families, where women represent the majority of caregivers.

Addressing care-related poverty requires recognising unpaid care as essential work and the development of public policies, infrastructure, and services that support caregivers. Local governments have an important role in creating cities where care is integrated into urban planning and public services. The concept of “Caring Cities” focuses on designing communities around human wellbeing, equality, sustainability, and shared responsibility rather than prioritising only economic productivity. Such cities aim to provide accessible services including childcare, healthcare, social support, housing, transport, energy, sanitation, and digital access.

Care-centred urban planning can reduce the burden placed on unpaid caregivers by making essential services easier to access and by redistributing care responsibilities more fairly between women and men, families and society. By treating care as a public good and a fundamental part of community life, cities can help prevent caregivers from being pushed into poverty.

Examples of this approach include Bogotá’s District Care System in Colombia, which reorganises urban services around the needs of caregivers. Its “Care Blocks” bring education, healthcare, employment support, and care services closer together, allowing caregivers to save time while dependants receive professional support. The initiative also includes programmes encouraging men to take a greater role in caregiving and challenging traditional gender roles.

Mexico City’s UTOPÍAS community centres provide another example of local action to address inequality. These spaces combine social services, culture, recreation, and community activities, particularly supporting groups at higher risk of poverty and exclusion, including women, children, older people, and people with disabilities. Local initiatives supporting single-parent families, such as targeted municipal programmes, also demonstrate how tailored measures can improve daily living conditions.

Grassroots organisations are also key partners in building caring communities. Mother Centres, father engagement programmes, and organisations supporting single parents provide practical assistance, training, counselling, childcare, and social connection. Strengthening these local networks alongside public services can help reduce poverty, improve wellbeing, and create more inclusive cities where care responsibilities are shared more equally.