Under Pressure, Mayor Haddad Adopts Tents and New Rule for Homeless People

06/17/2016 - 10h20

Under pressure and facing a loss of status due to the treatment towards homeless people in the current cold spell in São Paulo, Mayor Fernando Haddad (PT) decided to change his assistance policy and announced emergency actions for those living in the streets this winter.

As Folha disclosed on Thursday, June 16, the measures include tents to shelter the homeless in public areas – the same tents as those used during the dengue epidemics – and the creation of a protocol to prevent undue treatment in the approach and collection of the belongings of those sleeping in the streets.

In recent days, amid the low temperatures, five homeless people were found dead in the streets. The DA office decided to investigate whether the Haddad administration neglected assistance to the victims.

Agents of the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) were criticized as they had collected cardboards and mattresses used by the homeless - among other objects they used for warmth during cold nights.

"What we are trying to stop is the return of slums," Haddad said on Tuesday, June 14. After being accused of acting as a hygienist, Haddad apologized for the sentence on Thursday, but stressed that it was taken out of context.

"I apologize to those who might have misinterpreted what I said," Haddad said. "What I meant was that when we took office, there were 17 parks with communities of tents, which made it difficult for the Civil Guard and health care agents to approach them as there was drug trafficking in the area," he added.

Among the main critics of the treatment the Haddad management has given homeless people are members of the Catholic Church who deal with the issue, such as Father Julio Lancellotti.

At the end of Thursday afternoon, these members held a protest at Sé in favor of measures from public authorities to deal with the situation.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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	Nelson Antoine/FramePhoto/Folhapress
	In recent days, amid the low temperatures, five homeless people were found dead in the streets