Squatting Has Nearly Tripled in São Paulo Under Haddad Administration

11/25/2014 - 10h40

Figures for squatting almost tripled in Fernando Haddad's (PT) first two years as mayor of São Paulo, compared to the last two years of his predecessor, Gilberto Kassab (PSD).

681 incidents of squatting were recorded from January 2013 until November 4 this year, compared to 257 in the two years beforehand.

The data is provided by the Military Police taskforce responsible for monitoring the problem, and refers to land or buildings successfully reclaimed from squatters.

Since the beginning of his mandate, Haddad has been under pressure from social movements to deliver on his promise of providing housing for nearly 55,000 families by 2016.

He is trying to resolve the problem with the help of both Geraldo Alckmin's state government (PSDB) and the federal government.

One measure he took was to increase the area designated for social housing, a move which occurred after he appeared on top of a car with a loudspeaker at a demonstration by the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST) in June last year.

At the time, Haddad announced that he would sign a decree making Nova Palestina, in the south of São Paulo, a designated area for social housing, though he warned he would require approval for the plan from the city's Municipal Chamber.

However, leaders of the movement with whom Folha spoke say that dialogue with the mayor's office is not positive.

Moreover, following the protests of June last year, new groups began to emerge, promoting squatting, as took place in Grajaú (in the far south of São Paulo) in September last year, when 90 properties were occupied.

According to Guilherme Boulos, MTST leader, the increase in squatting is down to the spiraling costs of rent in recent years. "It's becoming a powder keg. People have no choice but to squat, because of the rampant increase in property speculation," he said.

Wladimir Ribeiro Brito, coordinator of the group responsible for the occupation of the Marrocos Cinema, says there will be more occupations. "Unless they can provide guarantees, we'll start occupying en masse. It's not like there's a shortage of buildings in the center."

Brito belongs to the São Paulo Homeless Movement (MSTS), which occupied the old cinema last year. Officially, the building belongs to the Municipal Department of Education. The group also occupied the old Vinyl Museum, though they were evicted last Wednesday (19).

Last Saturday (22), some of those evicted occupied another building, which had already been designated for recipients of the social housing program Minha Casa, Minha Vida.

According to the police, the taskforce responsible for reclaiming occupied property was created during the increase in squatting.

They say that after the creation of a protocol for reclaiming property was established, the number of voluntary exists by squatters increased by 157%: 54 by November this year, compared to 21 in 2012.

In a statement, the mayor's office said that preventing the illegal occupation of buildings and land in the city is the responsibility of the state government.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Jorge Araujo/Folhapress
	681 incidents of squatting were recorded from January 2013 until November 4 2014, compared to 257 in the 2 years beforehand