Housing Poverty In Brazil

Slum rehabilitation & housing projects in Brazil
  • 4,325 people served in FY21 4,325 people served in FY21
  • 1,455 people supported through repairs in FY21 1,455 people supported through repairs in FY21
  • Projects: construction, progressive improvements, land tenure Projects: construction, progressive improvements, land tenure

Since 1992, we have been serving families who suffered tremendous losses due to floods in Belo Horizonte.

Since then, we have developed projects to rehabilitate slums in Brazil across 11 states.

Inequalities And Extreme Poverty In Brazil

Brazil faces a shortage of more than 6 million homes. People earning less than US$1,000 per month account for about 90% of this deficit. It is estimated that more than 25 million Brazilians live in inadequate conditions. In the cities, overcrowding and housing deterioration are among some problems. According to data from several sources, 35 million people in urban areas lack access to drinking water, 14 million do not have trash collection services and 100 million are not connected to sewage systems.

People living in rural areas in the northeast region are currently suffering the worst drought in  50 years. In this area, access to water is a privilege, unavailable to over 26% of the population.

Housing Construction And Water Access

Housing is fundamental to the development of families and communities. For 30 years, Habitat Brazil has partnered with approximately 87,000 people in urban and rural areas to build or repair a place they call home. We work to transform unhealthy homes into safe and healthy homes so that families can build a better future.

The lack of access to water and sanitation for vulnerable populations has affected the health of millions of Brazilians for many years and the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated this situation. To address this problem, Habitat Brazil’s projects include the renovation of toilets, repair of water facilities, installation of community sinks, and construction of cisterns for rainwater collection and storage in urban and rural communities.

Advocacy And Partnerships In Brazil

In Brazil, we actively work in public policy advocacy with the goal of reducing the housing deficit and impacting more families. To date, Habitat Brazil has advocated for secure tenure and helped approve resolutions with the potential to impact people who do not have a guaranteed right to housing in the state of Pernambuco.

We seek to strengthen civil society organizations and social businesses, as well as local entrepreneurship, grassroots community organizations and Habitat homeowners.

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Support Our Work

In Brazil, we are currently present in six states with projects that aim to improve the lives of slum dwellers in Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo and smaller cities – ranging from building new homes, to repairs and improvements, water access and securing land tenure.

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How We Help Fight Inequalities In Brazil

We are one of the entities authorised to work in partnership with the government to build new houses for vulnerable families to help relieve the issue of income inequality in Brazil and the huge gap in living standards across the country. Through the Minha Casa, Minha Vida (My House, My Life) programme, Habitat Brazil is building 1,623 houses in two cities in the state of Pernambuco.

House Improvements And Slum Rehabilitation

bricks construction icon
Through microcredit loans with the support of a technical assistance team, qualified masons and volunteers, mothers and fathers can guarantee a better future for their children and a safe and healthy home where they can study, rest and play.

In Recife, 250 families will benefit from a project called The Future Begins at Home. In São Paulo, 100 families will have their houses improved through the Habitat in the Community project.

Access To Decent Housing

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Building impact in the sector is one of our global objectives.

We participate in debates and policy discussions for city councils at the national, state and municipal levels. We represent all NGOs and civil society organisations in the National Cities Council — formed by 71 holders representing the most diverse segments of civil society — to help solve the housing deficit.

This will benefit more families living under the poverty line in inadequate houses and help campaign for the rehabilitation of more slums in Brazil.

Access To Water And Secure Land Tenure

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In the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, this project aims to improve the quality of life of families and children who live in extreme poverty in Brazil and often have to walk for up to two hours to fetch water for their homes. By repairing and enlarging their roofs and building cisterns for water catchment and storage, hundreds of people have access to safe, usable water.

The land tenure project was set up to reduce urban poverty for women and vulnerable groups in Recife, Pernambuco, by increasing their access to secure land tenure and property rights.

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