This edition of the Interdisciplinary Scientific Journal Investigación y Saberes presents a critical analysis of the urban, social, and housing challenges facing contemporary Ecuador. The articles explore how urban informality and the housing deficit in cities such as Guayaquil demand innovative solutions, from the creation of interactive public spaces that act as interfaces for social integration to the evaluation of sustainable biomaterials such as mycelium for social housing construction. It also examines the effectiveness of the municipal regulatory framework in regularizing buildings, highlighting the need for more flexible policies that reduce the gap between formality and informality. Finally, the issue is complemented by a national epidemiological study linking exclusive breastfeeding with the reduction of chronic child malnutrition, reaffirming the importance of public health policies. Taken together, these studies offer a multidisciplinary vision oriented toward sustainable local development and improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations.