Ecobarrio Suerte 90

The Ecobarrio Suerte 90 in Cali, Colombia, is the country’s first eco-village, combining safe housing with social and environmental sustainability. It includes 222 low-cost, earthquake-resistant homes built by residents through mutual help, as well as community gardens, parks, and shared facilities like a community centre, shop, and restaurant. Families now have secure land tenure, proper infrastructure, and the chance to expand their homes over time.
Before the project, many low-income families in Cali lived in overcrowded, unsafe housing with no green spaces or secure land. Suerte 90 provides a healthier environment, with individual and collective vegetable gardens, organic waste management, and a “Native Germoplasm Bank” to protect endangered fruit trees. Recycled materials, including sugar cane ash and construction debris, were used to make affordable, earthquake-resistant bricks and blocks.
The project is managed by the residents with support from the Federación Nacional de Vivienda Popular (FENAVIP) and the city’s Social Housing Department. Families contribute labour, participate in decision-making, and join agricultural cooperatives that produce food for both home use and income generation. Savings and credit schemes developed by FENAVIP make housing affordable for families earning as little as $116 per year.
Beyond better housing, the eco-village strengthens community ties, promotes gender equality, and offers residents new economic opportunities. Parks and cultural programs encourage social interaction, while environmental efforts such as organic gardening and reforestation support long-term sustainability.
By combining self-built housing, eco-friendly materials, and community-led management, Suerte 90 shows how urban poor communities can achieve safe, affordable housing and social empowerment while caring for the environment.