Mexico to Promote Adequate, Sustainable Housing

Federal agencies signed a collaboration agreement to promote the development of adequate and sustainable housing projects, with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) participating in defining the environmental criteria for their execution. 

The initiative will be carried out through the Housing for Well-Being Program, led by the National Housing Commission (CONAVI), the Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers (INFONAVIT), and the Housing Fund of the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (FOVISSSTE). In addition, the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), the Ministry of Welfare, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), and SEMARNAT will play a key role in its implementation.

Edna Vega, Minister, SEDATU, emphasized that this agreement represents the collective support of the institutions involved, which will strengthen and accelerate the processes of the Housing for Well-Being Program while ensuring that field teams receive full backing. She added that working together will make it possible to consolidate this ambitious program, which is expected to become a milestone in the design and implementation of public policies in Mexico.

Under the agreement, each agency will contribute according to its responsibilities in housing development. SEDATU will establish mechanisms for technical collaboration between institutions, facilitate the exchange of information, and coordinate efforts with an integrated approach. The SICT will be responsible for planning and executing actions to design and improve road infrastructure and connectivity for housing developments, issuing technical reports, and providing assistance on sustainable urban mobility infrastructure. 

SEMARNAT will participate in the analysis and issuance of land-use change permits, promote environmental assessment processes for housing developments, oversee the authorization of environmental impact evaluations, and define environmental criteria for the planning, design, and execution of sustainable housing projects, ensuring the conservation, protection, and preservation of natural resources.

Twelve additional federal institutions will also take part in strengthening the project. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) will ensure that housing projects respect the country’s cultural heritage and that properties with artistic or historical value are identified and preserved. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) will collaborate in developing electricity distribution and supply infrastructure, while PEMEX will focus on identifying and assessing risks related to existing energy infrastructure. The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) will ensure that new housing developments have access to running water.

The program aims to build 500,000 housing units for people without access to social security and earning less than two minimum wages through CONAVI. INFONAVIT will construct 1.2 million housing units for its beneficiaries within the same income range, while FOVISSSTE will participate by building 100,000 additional units. The agency will also implement measures to support beneficiaries, including debt forgiveness, balance freezes, and write-offs, benefiting more than 400,000 people.

What Defines Adequate Housing?

According to the United Nations, adequate housing is recognized as a human right under international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Housing must meet seven essential elements to be considered adequate. It must provide security of tenure, meaning legal protection against forced eviction, harassment, and other threats. It should also guarantee access to basic services, including safe drinking water, proper sanitation facilities, energy for cooking, heating, and lighting, as well as means for food storage and waste disposal. Housing must be affordable, meaning residents should spend less than 30% of their income on housing costs.

Adequate housing must also ensure physical safety and provide spaces that protect residents from environmental hazards while meeting the specific needs of disadvantaged groups, particularly people with disabilities. It should respect and integrate cultural identity and expression and be in areas with access to employment opportunities, healthcare services, schools, childcare facilities, and other social infrastructure. Finally, housing must be situated away from high-risk zones and contaminated areas to guarantee the well-being of its inhabitants.