São Paulo Mayor Set to Fail on Social Housing Pledge; Sites at a Standstill

09/24/2015 - 08h46

A future social housing complex in West São Paulo has become a free space for graffiti artists. In the south of the city, another project aimed at the city's low-income population has yet to progress beyond the earthwork.

Although officially both are "under construction" according to the administration of Mayor Fernando Haddad (PT), in neither of the sites are there any workers.

The two cases reflect the paralysis in the construction of social housing, one of Haddad's main pledges. He promised 55,000 new homes by the end of 2016, but in the penultimate year of his mandate just 8072 (15%) have been completed.

Folha visited seven sites in the west, south and north of São Paulo. Four are at a standstill, two are progressing slowly, and just one is nearing completion.

At the Estrada das Lágrimas, in Heliópolis, South São Paulo, there is a sign from the administration of Haddad's predecessor, Gilberto Kassab, announcing the construction of a housing complex for 187 families by the end of 2012.

Haddad promised to finish the project. On paper, it is 75% "complete". However, those who pass by will see only a handful of concrete blocks scattered around an empty site. Instead of construction workers, there are security guards to ensure the site is not occupied.

"There's just a sign," says the trader Maurício Viana, 38. "There's never been any building work."

In West São Paulo, another project inherited from the Kassab administration is progressing, but slowly. Named Viela da Paz, the two-building complex is standing, but there is no indication as to when it will be complete.

The city government blames the problems on insufficient resources from the Federal Government. For housing, the city expected to receive R$3.5 billion (USD $838 million) but has received just R$400 million (USD $96 million).

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Diego Padgurschi /Folhapress
	Haddad promised 55,000 new homes by the end of 2016, but in the penultimate year of his mandate just 8072 have been completed