Contradictions in housing : lifelines in Santiago de Chile

Chilean social housing, rooted in neoliberal policies since Pinochet’s dictatorship, has provided millions of low-income families with homes, reducing the housing deficit and offering stability. However, these homes are often small, poorly built, and located on the periphery, limiting opportunities and burdening families, particularly women, with care responsibilities and financial strain. Despite these challenges, recipients view social housing as a lifeline. This duality drives both collective and individual efforts, with women playing a central role in organizing and adapting neighborhoods to better support their families.
This chapter examines the lifelines formed after the delivery of two social housing complexes. Through 52 interviews, in-depth interviews, and mapping exercises, it explores how inadequate housing and neighborhoods hinder development and daily life. The case studies highlight struggles and adaptations following the delivery of deficient homes and neighborhoods, which exacerbated inequalities, particularly gender-based ones. Women, burdened with care responsibilities, often lead efforts to improve homes and community spaces. Stronger neighborhood organization alleviated these burdens, while weaker cohesion limited success. In this way, housing policies both support and hinder life, functioning as contradictory lifelines.