The Federal Workers' Housing Fund, known as FOVISSSTE, is resuming the construction of social housing after a 34-year [5] pause.
This initiative targets low-income public-sector employees, such as nurses and teachers, who have been largely excluded from the private housing market. By returning to direct construction, the government aims to lower the barrier to homeownership for essential workers.
Led by director Martín Bates, the agency plans to build 100,000 affordable housing units [1]. The total investment for this nationwide effort is estimated at 60 billion pesos [2].
The first phase of the program is located in Puebla at the Carmen Serdán housing complex. This initial project consists of 512 homes [4]. According to the agency, the price per house is 600,000 pesos [3], structured over a 30-year term without UMAs.
Public officials, including Claudia Sheinbaum, said the move to restart social construction is a positive step. The program is designed to scale across the country to address the housing deficit among government employees.
FOVISSSTE had previously shifted away from direct construction for more than three decades, relying instead on private developers to provide housing options. The return to this model marks a significant shift in the agency's operational strategy to ensure affordability for the lowest income brackets of the public workforce.
“FOVISSSTE will resume building social housing after a 34-year pause”
The return to direct construction suggests a strategic pivot by the Mexican government to bypass private developers, who often price out low-wage public servants. By controlling the build process and capping prices at 600,000 pesos, FOVISSSTE is attempting to create a subsidized housing floor that the market has failed to provide for over three decades.
