Protest for more housing closes avenue in São Paulo.

Daniel Mello
Reporter from Agência Brasil

São Paulo - Around 2 thousand people, according to the Military Police (PM), closed both directions of Avenida Giovanni Gronchi, in Morumbi, south of São Paulo, at the beginning of the evening of this Thursday (29). The group is part of an occupation organized by the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST) on land that, according to them, belongs to the federal government and is close to the Paraisópolis Favela.

According to one of the MTST coordinators, Guilherme Boulos, the area of ​​approximately 10 square meters had been abandoned for 15 years and is now being claimed by 700 families. "What we want is for the federal government, the São Paulo city hall, and the state government to come and talk [with us] to make a housing project viable on that land," he said, referring to the area that was occupied last week by the homeless.

According to Boulos, the route of the march was chosen as a way to draw the attention of the most privileged part of society. "Unfortunately, the way to draw attention to the problems is to go to the areas that bother the rich," he stated. The demonstrators left Rua Silveira Sampaio in the early evening and headed towards the Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium, Morumbi.

Some of the occupants come from the Paraisópolis favela itself, as is the case with general services assistant Silvino Piauí da Silva. He said he pays R$ 500 in rent for a two-bedroom house to live in with his wife and son. “Everyone needs a place to live. But we're having to pay rent, with so many vacant places around. The government doesn't build affordable housing for the population,” he said.

Editing: Aécio Amado