Cityscape with hills in background

Covid-19 and Housing

COVID 19 & Housing: Occupations and Evictions in Bogotá, Cape Town and São Paulo

 

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the long-standing housing inequality in most cities. The economic fallout has led to unaffordable rents forcing families into homelessness and precarious accommodation. Residents are making shelters in public spaces and occupying abandoned buildings and vacant land. In most cases there is limited access to basic services such as water and sanitation. This population does not have any ownership rights and live under the constant threat of eviction. City governments have often chosen to criminalise and police these informal settlements instead of ensuring the universal right to adequate housing.  This research report documents the rise in homelessness in Bogotá, Cape Town and São Paulo and the social movement campaigns to prevent millions of people from getting evicted. 

 

Citation

Scheba, S. , Scheba, A., Paterniani, S. , Millington , N. , Betancourt, D. , and Díaz, J. (2021) COVID 19 & Housing: Occupations and Evictions in Bogotá, Cape Town and São Paulo. Research Report. Low and Middle Income Countries Research Network