Introduction

An intense migration from the rural areas to the emerging urban settings of Ecuador took place during the second half of the 20th century. Most of the population concentrated in Quito and Guayaquil. This spawned high demand for housing units and, ultimately, because of the government's lack of response, a great housing deficit. Therefore, working-class groups found answers and solutions through selfbuilding and self-management practices. Such experiences included housing committees and cooperatives. The latter were highly studied in Chile and Uruguay, but the same attention has not been paid to the Ecuadorian cooperatives. However, these organisations promoted a significant growth in the urban footprint of Quito, especially in low-cost land at the peripheral areas, where working-class solutions for habitat took place.

This chapter presents the experience of the Alianza Solidaria Housing Cooperative, which undertook the construction of houses and a sustainable environment through self-management, prompting a shift in their relationship with their territory. This chapter is organised in three sections. First, a historic review of both Quito's urbanisation process and national housing policies is presented, through a simultaneous narrative of urban growth, the construction of public policies and the pro-housing struggle. The second section is focused on the cooperative movement of Ecuador, providing context for the formation of housing cooperatives in Quito aimed mainly at the working class. Lastly, the third section presents the experience of the Alianza Solidaria Housing Cooperative, where solidarity economy and self-management shaped not only the production of habitat, but also the edification of participative and aware communities. Such efforts are revealed in the population and their lively and healthy territory.

Historical context of urbanisation and housing policies in Quito, Ecuador

The concept of habitat is understood in Ecuador as the built and integral space in which the population settles and develops its activities; therefore, it is necessary to achieve environmental quality in order to offer secure conditions for its inhabitants (SENPLADES, 2013). The Constitution of Ecuador (2008) requires all government levels to provide appropriate habitat and housing based on the principles of universality, equality, equity, progressiveness, interculturality, solidarity and no discrimination.