Problem Identification And Relevance

221-232 (Previous) Images from the site.

UNSECURED TENURE

Both the interviews with Association coordinators and the collected household surveys express residents’ concerns with unsecured tenure. The Occupation residents fear a sudden eviction from the site by the landowner or the government. Tenure security, perceived and factual, allows residents to establish themselves as regular citizens who have access to public services.

UNSUSTAINABLE HOUSING PHYSICAL STRUCTURE

The data analysis of the door-to-door household survey, as well as interviews with Association coordinators, demonstrate that residents worry about the unsustainable housing quality and the low levels of habitability due to weak materials and poor housing design. For instance, poor temperature control is a common problem and survey respondents complained about a lack of private life and disruptive noise because of poor soundproof materials. Furthermore, residents voiced concerns about the influx of stormwater and sewage when it rains.

LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The residents want to spend less on construction costs than the rents they used to pay before moving to the Occupation. According to our household survey, 90% of the households earn less than R$2000 ($634 USD) per month (two minimum wages), while 53% of them earn below R$1000 ($317 USD) (one minimum wage). None of the survey respondents earn equal to or more than R$4000 ($1,269 USD) (per month). The survey also shows the rents that residents paid before coming to Ocupação Anchieta: 71% of the households paid rents ranging from R$251 ($79 USD) to 500 per month, and 19% paid from R$501 to 700 ($158 to $222 USD). Thus, the Occupation households

UNSECURED TENURE

- Fear of eviction - Desire of permanent ownership

UNSUSTAINABLE HOUSING PHYSICAL STRUCTURE

- Inconvenience of using exposed kitchens and toilets - Weak and/or poor quality materials - Influx of stormwater and wastewater in rainy season - Poor wastewater management - Poor temperature control+ ventilation - Noise and lack of privacy - Poor foundation and structural systems

LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

- Heavy construction cost - High Rental Costs

SOCIO-ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY

- Socio-spatial segregation - Lack of public services

233 Housing Problems in Ocupação Anchieta

used to spend between 21% and 25% of their income in rent before moving. Although the percent shares of housing burden to income seems low, saving rent makes a move to the Occupation economical because the income earned is used towards clothing and food.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY

In general, Occupation residents experience socio-spatial segregation and a lack of most public services (such as police, fire, health care, and infrastructure) because they do not live in formalized area. Furthermore, residents suffer from housing insecurity and are unable to move to better built environments. According to our interviews and household surveys, most households earn income below the poverty level. Our survey findings report a low employment rate of 50%. Of these employed residents, half work only part-time jobs.