02.1 ABOUT OUR CLIENT AND PA R T N E R S
Brazil has a vibrant ecosystem of social movements, many working in the realm of housing. These organizations have a long history of alliance and often collaborate in mobilizing around issues relating to the wellbeing of lowincome or otherwise disenfranchised Brazilians. Our partners in this project — UMM-SP, UNMP, and MST-Leste 1 — are essential actors in these struggles, representing thousands of people demanding stable, safe, and affordable housing.
UNIÃO DOS MOVIMENTOS DE MORADIA, SÃO PAULO (UNION OF HOUSING MOVEMENTS, OR UMM-SP) In 1987, UMM-SP was founded following the end of Brazil’s military dictatorship to fight for the right to housing and urban reform, building on the social momentum that led to the creation of many other popular movements during that time. UMM-SP advocates on behalf of the residents of slums, tenements, homeless populations, and land occupations living in overcrowded or otherwise substandard housing. Work is carried out with local groups and associations, engaging municipal housing departments in collaboration with leaders of the national movement, UNMP.1 Functioning as a network, the movement represents hundreds of neighborhood and regional organizations, altogether comprising 50,000 members across the state of São Paulo.2 UMM-SP has assisted in the production of more than 30,000 homes mostly across the urban periphery, but also via the renovation of unused or unoccupied buildings in the urban center.3 18 • INTRODUCTION
The movement also engages in legislative advocacy, organizing around housing policy and programs that benefit low income Brazilians. Individuals and families often join the movement as a response to the threat of eviction and tend to be very low-income. The majority of movement members are women of color, many of them single mothers.
UNIÃO NACIONAL POR MORADIA POPULAR (NATIONAL UNION FOR POPULAR HOUSING, OR UNMP) UNMP emerged from the efforts of UMM-SP and associated housing movements across the country. Its formation was catalyzed in 1989 as part of an effort to pass the first Popular Initiative Bill, eventually leading to the creation of the Sistema Nacional de Habitação por Interesse Social (National System for Social Interest Housing); this system would go on to include the National Housing System, the National Housing Fund, and the Council People’s Law of 2005 (for more information, see “Housing Policy and Finance” section in Chapter 3.3).4 Following the creation of this system, housing movements across São Paulo and several other states partnered to form UNMP at the first ever National Meeting for Popular Housing in 1993. Today, UNMP is among the largest organized urban social movements, representing 16 states across Brazil.5
