“The land will stay”: Lessons for inclusive, self-organizing housing projects

Abstract

Self-organized housing projects are a viable alternative to state-led or market-oriented housing. But a critical assessment of prevailing principles of ongoing efforts reveals a need for an institutional framework adaptation to target higher participation rates of low-income households. This research investigates the favela Asa Branca in Rio de Janeiro through the lens of social cohesion to find entry points to such a framework adaptation. Evaluating interviews with residents paired with empirical observations identify an array of tendencies toward or away from its spatial and social consolidation. Understanding the dynamics can explain Asa Branca's persistence despite disruptive events in its history. Seven lessons eventually derive principles for policymakers and housing groups elsewhere to enable a more diverse range of participating households in alternative types of self-organized housing.