Social protection policy through housing the urban poor: local innovation from Surabaya, Indonesia

This article examines the implementation of the Social Rehabilitation of Uninhabitable Houses (RS-RTLH) program in Surabaya as an integrated model of social protection that bridges poverty reduction, local economic empowerment, and inclusive urban governance. Employing a qualitative approach through interviews, observations, and document analysis, the study reveals that RS-RTLH not only improves the physical quality of housing but also strengthens social capital, revitalises community solidarity, and generates micro-economic benefits such as home-based enterprises and increased household productivity. The program’s success is underpinned by adaptive institutional coordination, digital transparency, and co-production practices between government and communities. Surabaya’s experience demonstrates how local innovation and collaborative governance can transform housing interventions into instruments of socio-economic empowerment, advancing the achievement of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).