The other side of urban invisibility

Abstract

Objective – To analyze the homeless population in Brazil, focusing on the city of São Paulo, understanding their origins, hopes, expectations and ways of experiencing the urban environment. To examine possible alternatives to mitigate the problem, highlighting the importance of the homeless themselves as protagonists in the proposed solutions.

Methodology – The study uses a qualitative approach based on cartography methodology. Information was collected through documentary analysis, in addition to secondary data collection from research and reports from national and international institutions, such as IPEA, IBGE, Oxfam and FEANTSA.

Originality/Relevance – Contributes to the understanding of urban invisibility and its relationship with the unequal production of urban space. It highlights the impact of the economic model on social exclusion and critically analyzes the commitments of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda, highlighting a mismatch between the proposed principles and urban reality.

Results – The study indicates a 211% increase in the homeless population in Brazil between 2012 and 2022, with a higher concentration in the wealthiest cities, especially in São Paulo. The main factors are the increase in housing costs, economic inequality, urban segregation and hostile architecture. The research refutes the view that drug addiction is the main cause of the phenomenon, highlighting unemployment, family conflicts and homelessness as predominant factors.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions – The research contributes to the debate on urban invisibility and social exclusion, based on authors such as Ítalo Calvino, Zygmunt Bauman and Adela Cortina. The study broadens the understanding of urban marginalization and questions the prevailing view that homelessness results only from individual factors, highlighting the influence of the socioeconomic structure on social exclusion.

Social and Environmental Contributions – The study highlights the social impacts of aporophobia and housing exclusion, with an emphasis on São Paulo. Furthermore, it highlights the need to combat practices such as hostile architecture, which increase social segregation and the vulnerability of the homeless.