Monteagudo Housing Project

Complejo Monteagudo is a housing project in Buenos Aires led by the Territorial Liberation Movement (MTL), created to provide decent homes for 326 formerly homeless families. Built through a cooperative model, the project was managed and constructed by the future residents themselves, many of whom were previously unemployed. The homes were completed in just 30 months at a much lower cost than traditional public housing, thanks to the direct use of government funds through Law 341, which allows community groups to manage housing budgets.
The housing complex includes not only apartments but also community spaces, a nursery, shops, and a radio station. Residents worked in construction, helped manage finances, and collaborated with architects on the design. Along the way, over 400 permanent jobs were created, and residents gained valuable skills in construction and project management.
The project transformed an abandoned industrial site into a thriving neighbourhood, using local materials and restoring part of an old factory building. It also improved the surrounding area, encouraged new businesses, and showed that low-income families can create high-quality, well-managed housing with the right support.
The Emetele cooperative has since grown into a construction company building hundreds more homes across the city. Residents repay their housing loans over 30 years, with repayments kept affordable. Employment from the project helps support repayment and long-term financial sustainability.
The project stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when communities lead their own development. It promotes solidarity, empowers workers, and supports women and migrants in gaining employment and housing security. Monteagudo has inspired similar efforts elsewhere in Argentina and abroad, showing that community-led housing can be a real solution to urban poverty and homelessness.