The construction of infrastructure aims to ensure all residents have access to public services. The neighbourhood’s infrastructure network is connected with that of the city. Access roads were improved. The frequency of public transportation services was increased to improve internal and external connectivity. Twenty-six public spaces and sports courts were renovated. New green and recreational spaces were created. This reduced pollution and encouraged leisure and recreational activities with a positive impact on residents’ health. The creation of a new park will transform the area under the Illia Highway into a public space.

The objective is to have every resident living in a safe, accessible and adequate home. The first strategy is to improve the habitability conditions through the Housing Improvement Programme. It covers both the exterior and the interior of homes: improving facilities, accesses, openings and waterproofing. The project does not seek to rebuild the neighbourhood from scratch but starts with the refurbishment and improvement of what already exists. A second strategy is the construction of new housing. More than 1,200 new homes were built to resettle families whose houses can’t be improved.

Social integration includes access to quality public education and to health. The goal is to find a seat in a classroom for each child and to develop alternatives so that all adults can find spaces to finish school, regardless of their age. When this project began, no public school existed in the neighbourhood. During the first four years, three new schools were built with a kindergarten, primary school and an adult education centre. The lack of access to the formal health system generated serious issues for the residents. From the project beginning, close and good quality health care, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, were objectives. Today, the neighbourhood has two new health centres, and one more renovated. This ensures all residents have access to primary health care close to their homes. The city government also set up a SAME (Emergency Medical Care System) base, where an ambulance is available 24 hours a day to attend to any emergency in the neighbourhood.

Of the economically active population, half earn their income informally and the lack of training options create even fewer opportunities to enter the labour market. An objective is to integrate the neighbourhood economy within the city. The government works on public policies with a transversal perspective. All the economic actors are considered: entrepreneurs, merchants, and jobseekers. All policies are centralized in the CeDEL (Centre for Entrepreneurial and Labour Development), where residents come for advice and training. The Centre works on labour integration, training in trade, formalization and financial inclusion and advice to entrepreneurs.

• 17,700 linear metres of infrastructure was built to provide basic services (sewage, drainage, pavement, public lighting, electricity and drinking water).

• 2,225 people have been resettled to new houses within the neighbourhood and have a property title.

• 1,154 new housing units were built for the residents.

• 1,732 houses received housing improvements.

• Twenty-seven public spaces have been upgraded.

• Three new schools were built, and one school was improved, offering more than 2,600 new school seats.

• The new Ministry of Education headquarters was built and inaugurated, in January 2020.

• 565 teenagers participated in the 2019–2020 edition of ‘Estudiar es Elegir tu Futuro’ (Studying to Choose your Future). This programme offers training in cognitive abilities together with tutoring and follow-ups to strengthen secondary education completion.

• Two new health centres were built and one was remodelled to guarantee all residents of Barrio 31 have access to a health centre within a 15-minute walk from their homes.

• 20,386 residents have participated in cultural activities organized by the City Government.

• Over 5,000 residents have participated in gender equity and empowerment activities.

• More than 4,000 participatory meetings have been carried out.

• 63% of the labour force participated in training and mentoring in the CeDEL.

• 900 people were hired through the CeDEL’s Job Exchange.

• 123 companies are acting as strategic partners offering jobs and training.

• 223 entrepreneurs were trained, empowered and mentored.

• 180 entrepreneurs received micro credits to improve their businesses.

Any urban renovation project, when dealing with informal settlements, must consider the possibility of gentrification. In Barrio Mugica, the land has always been sought by the real estate market – as it is next to the highest-income neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires. To create lasting change and make the Integration Project sustainable, the City Government worked together with residents and the City Legislature to create a legal and regulatory framework that mitigates the possibility of gentrification. City Law 6,129 effectively amended the city’s planning code, establishing strict limits in land plot sizes, heights, total square metres of construction, and land uses. Thanks to these regulations, specific for Barrio 31, it is no longer possible to build large skyscrapers or commercial buildings in the neighbourhood. The maximum height allowed is four stories. The maximum area per project is 250 m2, lower than the minimum in the City. Eighty percent out of the total area must be reserved for residential structures.

To avoid gentrification, a special arrangement ensures the City Government has the right to buy the properties – once formalized – from those residents wanting to sell them. This way, no company or realtor can pressure residents to sell their homes and redevelop. The process leads to the formalization of property and granting of land deeds after close to 90 years of informality, together with the regularization of public services (e.g. water and electricity).

The Barrio Mugica Project also focuses on economic development to boost residents’ incomes. The City Training courses improve accounting practices. Business management and marketing skills are improved. An entrepreneurs’ network share their experiences and advice. Small businesses’ financial inclusion is supported. Residents are helped to get formal jobs.

By making residents part of the policy process, improvements are better adopted by them, relationships with the government and the City improve, and responsibilities are better shared among all actors involved.