The Federal Senate is discussing the creation of a law guaranteeing basic health care for homeless people. The bill also seeks to criminalize aporophobia, which is aversion to people living in poverty.
The Senate is discussing the approval of a law guaranteeing basic services to the homeless – Photo: EDU GARCIA/R7The statute prohibits the forced collection of goods and belongings and the forced removal and transportation of homeless persons. Government officials who break the rules will be punished by the state.
The project also provides support from municipal and state sanitary supervision to guarantee shelter for animals belonging to homeless people, including those in contact with private veterinary clinics.
A guarantee of three free meals a day for the homeless is also being discussed. The offering also aims to provide nutritionists who respect users’ individual health needs, such as diabetes and food allergies.
The statute is pending before the Senate.
The Homeless Act, authored by Senator Randolph Rodriguez, was debated in the Federal Senate. The proposal was created after the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, asked the federal government to present a plan for a national policy regarding homelessness in Brazil, following a significant increase in this population.
Senator Randolph Rodriguez spoke about the creation of the statute:
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of homeless people has increased significantly. For example, a recent census of the homeless population commissioned by the city of São Paulo shows that over the past two years the number of people living without shelter in the city has increased by 31%. A total of 31,884 people currently live on the streets of the capital São Paulo, up from 24,344 in 2019. Compared to 2015, this number doubled: at that time there were 15,905 people living on the streets of São Paulo.”
Alexander de Moraes demanded measures to help the homeless – Photo: Antonio Augusto/Secom/TSE/NDData on the growth of the homeless population
According to the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), the number of homeless people increased from 92,515 in September 2012 to 221,869 in March 2020, an increase of 140%.
The survey, carried out between March and June 2023 using Cadunico data and coordinated by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), found that 215,965 people live on the streets. In March, estimates showed that 209,913 people were on the streets, and in June that number rose to 215,965.
Source: Ndmais