Brazil: authorities say families in São Paulo still face eviction

Mauá families

Earlier last week aid agency CAFOD received the good news that a proposed eviction of 2,000 people in Sao Paulo had been postponed and that the local authorities were looking into secure longer-term housing for these families. This news came after thousands of CAFOD supporters signed a petition fighting for the eviction order to be overturned.

It has now come to light that an unexpected court ruling last week means that these families once again face being thrown out on the streets.

Osmar Borges, from CAFOD partner APOIO, said: "We have now one more month to work to try and prevent a dire situation facing these homeless families. Such is our struggle: one round finishes and a new one comes up. More than ever, we need to work hard to involve the public authorities and the government so they can take action urgently. They have the power to overturn this decision.

"We need to hold the government to account so they will deliver on their promises and provide the agreed solutions for these homeless families now. It will be very important now to strengthen our work to mobilise public opinion, campaign and engaging government over the next month, particularly in this electoral period. CAFOD's petition and international support are essential to us. It gives us strength, it shows we are not alone, and that the plight of the families has huge support."

This means that renewed support for CAFOD's campaign and petition is now more important than ever as the families hold a series of emergency meetings to consider their next steps. For the latest information on the next stage of the campaign go to CAFOD's website.

Early last week a CAFOD campaign to suspend the planned eviction of more than 2,000 people, including 250 children, pregnant women, older and disabled people, appeared to have ended in victory. After an urgent call to action in support of the Sao Paulo community, more than 3,000 CAFOD supporters signed a petition in just one week demanding the Brazilian authorities overturn the eviction order and ensure the families have somewhere secure to live in the future.

Parish justice and peace groups, school children and a local MP were among those who sent messages of support and signed the CAFOD petition. Last week the eviction order was overturned and the Brazilian authorities said they were looking into ways to house the families for the longer-term.

CAFOD's partner APOIO, which champions people's rights to decent housing in Sao Paulo, took CAFOD's campaign petition to the Brazilian authorities to show the strength of international support for the community's situation.

In early July nearly 2,000 people marched through the streets of Sao Paulo in support of housing rights. This march added to the pressure on the Brazilian authorities to suspend the eviction orders which threatened families in Mauá and in another abandoned building, Rio Branco.

CAFOD's campaign petition action centred on the Mauá building in the heart of Sao Paulo. It was once a luxury hotel but was abandoned and lay empty for 17 years until more than 200 homeless families moved in in 2007. They renovated and cleaned the rundown building and since then they have since been trying to win legal rights to their home - which is permitted under Brazilian law. Earlier this year, the families succeeded in preventing the Mauá building from being demolished and started negotiations with the authorities to convert the building into social housing.

Through CAFOD's Connect2 project, parishes in England and Wales have been following and supporting the Mauá community since 2010. These families appeal for your thoughts and prayers.

For more information see: http://connect2brazil.wordpress.com/