This research delves into the understanding of self-constructed settlement as a complex adaptive system, specifically focusing on Anchieta Occupation in São Paulo, Brazil. The design hypothesis posits that informal settlements embody highly adaptable systems, offering valuable insights for housing development strategies. The complex socio-economic and historical context of São Paulo’s rapid urban growth, coupled with the array of housing solutions that have arisen, underscores the necessity to reassess these informal settlements. This research explores the concept of a mutual-aid social housing cooperative as an alternative approach guided by the principles of complex adaptive systems, capable of addressing the evolving needs of the community. Drawing inspiration from the successful model of mutual-aid housing cooperatives in Uruguay, this study employs a structured framework based on seven fundamental characteristics of CAS: aggregation, building blocks, flows, diversity, tags, internal models, and non-linearity. Understanding the dynamics of land occupation and guiding housing development or upgrading strategies without stifling self-building and selforganizing forces can lead to remarkable robustness.