Occupation of space in the city of São Paulo

social vulnerability and expansion of informal urban settlements

Abstract

Objective – This study aims to observe social vulnerability in the face of the expansion of informal urban settlements in the city of São Paulo, seeking to understand this urban phenomenon.

Methodology – The methodology used in this study is action research, in which the problems identified by the theoretical framework must also be taken into account for the reliability and validity of the research. The qualitative approach and exploratory and descriptive nature of the research contributed to understanding the interaction of elements related to the object of study and the understanding of the phenomenon as a whole. The bibliographic research conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases focused on the expansion of informal urban settlements, socio-spatial segregation, social vulnerability, and included the analysis of public documents, such as data from the Municipal Housing Secretariat, IPEA, and IBGE.

Originality/Relevance – The research carried out is innovative for academic theory and practice, as there are no precedents for works that associate socio-spatial segregation and Social Vulnerability Indices with the expansion of informal urban settlements in the Municipality of São Paulo.

Results – This study identified a gap in the organization and distribution of urban space, which effectively contributes to the expansion of the housing crisis, highlights infrastructure problems, and drives high rates of poverty and vulnerability. Therefore, informal urban settlements have become the predominant spatial segmentation in the peripheries, requiring the implementation of emerging public policies and the implementation of investments and services aimed at urban development as a whole.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions – The research carried out is relevant to academic theory and practice, as there are no precedents for works that associate socio-spatial segregation and Social Vulnerability Indices and the expansion of informal urban settlements, enabling a tangible view of poverty and slum formation in the Municipality of São Paulo.

Social and Environmental Contributions – As a social contribution to the business sector and the public sector, the technical survey presents an overview of slum development and informal urban settlements, demonstrating the precariousness of peripheral and highly socially vulnerable regions. This report allows us to identify recurring problems in each social stratum. The data gathered contributes to the adoption of public policies and investments, and enables the recognition of the most vulnerable communities.