This comparative research examines how the UN Sustainable Development Goals move from global commitments into municipal housing policy. Using Toronto and Metro Manila as contrasting cases, the project traces six policy pathways through an SDG Translation Chain and Visibility–Translation Matrix to distinguish between simply referencing the SDGs and meaningfully embedding their commitments into institutions, policy instruments, and implementation. The findings show that SDG visibility does not necessarily equal meaningful localization. Toronto demonstrates how SDG-related principles can become institutionally embedded even when explicit SDG language fades, while Metro Manila illustrates how highly visible global commitments can weaken as they travel across levels of government. Ultimately, the research asks not only whether cities are “aligned” with SDG 11, but what the goal actually changes, who becomes responsible for delivering it, and whether people remain at the centre of implementation.