Self-management and the production of habitat: a case study of the Alianza Solidaria Housing Cooperative in Quito

During the second half of the twentieth century, Ecuador went through an intense rural-urban migration that drove a significant increase in the demand for housing units. Insufficient government response resulted in great housing deficit in all the cities. Later, this triggered the formation of pro housing organizations across the country, which looked for quick solutions for the poorest working class. Since the 70s, economic changes driven by the oil boom also contributed to said housing deficit increase along with the growth of urban informality in many cities. Although self-build and self-management housing production fostered urban sprawl over unserved peripheral land, cooperativism became an alternative to tackle the growing scarcity. However, the case of Alianza Solidaria Housing Cooperative stands out among the numerous social organizations that aimed for better living conditions. It developed an alternative for housing production in the periphery of Quito based on a comprehensive vision about habitat, self-management, solidarity-based economy and cooperativism.