Slum upgrading and the approach toward housing precariousness

Abstract

A large share of the Brazilian population, especially in Metropolitan areas, is living in slums where upgrading has been the most common type of intervention. The design of slum upgrading programs has advanced over time and interventions in general have improved living conditions. Nevertheless, programs not always provide solutions for precarious housing situations, housing deficits or adequate environmental recovery of settlements. Several challenges remain, the consolidation or provision of adequate housing being one of them. The objective of this research is to analyze how precarious housing conditions in slum upgrading projects has been dealt with in Metropolitan São Paulo since the decade of 2000. More specifically, the analysis is aimed at identifying to what extent intervention strategies have reduced housing precariousness, thereby contributing to the effective reduction of deficits in terms of housing inadequacy. (AU)