Africans Occupying Former Hotel Create Pro-Housing Group in São Paulo

03/11/2015 - 09h04

Seven Angolan, Congolese and Nigerian families have occupied an abandoned hotel in the center of São Paulo, and together they are part of the recently created Brazilian Housing for Foreigners Movement (MMBE, in its Portuguese abbreviation).

Scared of losing their space in a government shelter where they had been sleeping for the last three months, they now occupy the former hotel, located on the corner of Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antônio.

Most of the homeless foreigners came to Brazil fleeing civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2014. Now, they have begun to organize, with the MMBE being created in the last month.

MMBE's founder and president, the Brazilian Cícero Cláudio Facundo da Costa, 31, says that the group emerged from the enormous demand for housing for foreigners. The only Brazilians who live in the building's 17 rooms are volunteers, such as a builder and a lawyer.

The Congolese Amadi Luthia Lucie, 37, sought out the group after learning that she was to be evicted from the government shelter Terra Nova. She is alone, having left her country three months ago by sea after losing her husband and two children in an armed attack.

Lucie is not put off by the old, damp mattress she has to sleep on, nor by the dirt and seepage in her room. "Here, at least I have food, I can study Portuguese, and I think I'll be able to get a job soon", she says.

Each family pays US$32 to MMBE's president to be a part of the movement. He says that the money will be put towards improving the roof and the plumbing. He also intends to hire a porter.

The Congolese Elysee Makanzu, 33, is eight months pregnant and joined the movement scared that she would end up sleeping on the streets. "I escaped the war without my husband, and I have to start a new life here. I have a CPF number and a worker's record card. Now I just need a work."

The state social development secretary, Floriano Pesaro, said that these families will not be evicted from the government shelter. "Terra Nova has room for 50 people. They can stay for three months, but they can renew for another three, and that might increase further still."

The city administration of São Paulo has had a reception center for immigrants since last year, which is able to attend 110 people.

The owner of the former hotel, which has a market value of US$1.9 million, was not available for comment.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

Read the article in the original language

	Ernesto Rodrigues/Folhapress
	Africans have occupied an abandoned hotel in the center of São Paulo