<p>The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of informal settlements in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, through the lens of sustainable community. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and weighted overlay analysis to examine changes in land use and land cover (2004–2024), road infrastructure connectivity, and access to social services which are essential for sustainable community of these settlements. The findings reveal that rapid urban expansion, with built-up areas increased from 6.96% in 2004 to 44.09% of the total area of the city in 2024, primarily at the expense of forest and agricultural land. This rapid sprawl is exacerbated by the proliferation of the informal settlements at the periphery of the city. This informal growth is characterized by severe deficits in road infrastructure, with 44.31% of the informal settlement area classified as unsuitable for road access, and in education services, with 71.39% of the area beyond acceptable distance standards. The comprehensive suitability analysis concluded that 70.4% of the informal settlements are moderately to highly unsuitable for sustainable development which necessitated suitable policy initiatives by the city administration. The study emphasizes that unplanned growth of informal settlements brings significant challenges to sustainable living. It concludes that achieving a sustainable community requires strategic, spatially guided interventions that prioritize community involvement in the regularization and upgrading of these settlements.</p>