Slideshow: Brazil’s Rua Martins Fontes housing occupation
Read or listen to Sam Cowie’s report on how a Brazilian movement has turned an abandoned government office into housing for poor, working families in São Paulo. (Photo credit: Sam Cowie)
Click on any thumbnail to launch slideshow.
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- Occupation Martins Fontes is located about half a mile from São Paulo’s financial district. Around 50 families – some 150 people – live here, including cooks, teachers, cleaners, students and several children.
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- The former government building was abandoned for 20 years and was occupied in 2011. There are rules in the building: no drugs, no alcohol, no fighting. Anyone caught breaking the rules is expelled.
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- One of the makeshift rooms in the occupation. Electricity in the building doesn’t come on until 7:30pm. The rooms are occupied by families whose combined monthly income is less than US$800.
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- Most of the rooms have gas stoves, TV’s and/or laptops. However, none have running water. There are two bathrooms in the building, both located on the first floor.
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- Two residents leave for work. Central São Paulo properties have risen in value by nearly 200% since 2008, leading to an increase in occupied buildings.
