As the global population continues to grow, over half of the world’s people now reside in urban areas. Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban areas, with 828 million individuals currently living in slums, primarily in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. The BRICS + nations, characterized by large populations and rapid urbanization, face significant challenges in providing adequate housing. India and Brazil, for example, have approximately 65 million (5% of the population) and 16 million (8% of the population) slum dwellers, respectively. Addressing slum conditions and developing sustainable housing is a critical issue for these nations. According to SDG 11, ensuring cities are safe and sustainable includes providing access to safe and affordable housing and upgrading slum settlements by 2030. This study investigates why a significant number of people continue to live in slums despite government efforts to develop and subsidize sustainable housing projects. It identifies the institutional challenges faced by governments in Brazil, India, and Egypt. The findings reveal that sustainable social housing necessitates collaborative action across various national sectors, such as the economy, livelihoods, and transportation, and requires significant cooperation with the private sector and international organizations for financial and community assistance.