São Paulo census reveals immigrants among homeless

The Homeless Census, published by the Secretariat for Social Assistance and Development of São Paulo city, revealed that the presence of homeless immigrants—7% of whom found in a shelter, and 1% living on the streets—is a relatively recent social phenomenon in the city. “These foreigners come mostly from African countries. They usually come to the city and look for services from social work agents,” the document reads.

Despite forming a relatively small group, the survey expects a rising trend in the near future, with the capital city experiencing an increasing inflow of refugees from countries facing economic difficulties as well as conflicts of political, ethnic, and religious nature.

The census had been released last year, but the socioeconomic profile of the homeless population was not made public by city authorities until Wednesday (Apr. 20). Altogether, homeless people in São Paulo add up to 15,905—8,570 in homeless shelters and 7,335 on streets and public areas.

Migrants from within the country's Southeast regions itself, where the city is located, and the Northeast account for 71% of the homeless on the streets, and 73.4% of the sheltered.

According to the study, most of them, both sheltered and unsheltered, are male—88%—with an average age of 43 among the sheltered and 41 among those on the streets. As for the skin color stated, 69.7% of the sheltered and 72.1% of the individuals living on the streets describe themselves as non-white, i.e., they are black, brown, yellow, or indigenous.

Educational levels are low. Of the unsheltered homeless, 9.6% are illiterate, compared to 7.1% among the sheltered. The percentage of those who finished middle school is also far from significant—slightly beyond 15% in either group. Those who graduated from high school amount to 20.9% of those sheltered and 16.6% of street dwellers.

Over half of the street population have been committed to at least one type of institution, most notably prisons and rehabilitation centers for alcohol and drug abuse, according to the census. Of the sheltered, 30.5% have been patients at a rehabilitation center, 27.5% have been in jail, and 11% have been patients in a psychiatric institution. Ten percent have been admitted to Fundação Casa. As for those who live on the streets, 40% have been in prison, 32.8% in a rehabilitation center, and 12% to Fundação Casa.

Health care

The most frequently mentioned health conditions in the survey were mouth problems (27.5% of the sheltered, 34.5% of street dwellers), sequelae caused by accidents (26% and 26.7%), HIV (3.3% and 4.5%), and tuberculosis (3.9% and 4,5).

Regarding the use of psychoactive drugs, the census found that the preferred substance among the homeless is alcohol, with 44.6% of the sheltered and 70.1% of the unsheltered admitting having consumed it. As for users of illicit drugs, the rate reported was 52.5% of those on the streets and 28.7% of the ones sheltered.

According to the city hall, in addition to the health state of the homeless, the study covered their use of public health care services. The data indicate that most of the sheltered and also most of the street dwellers have turned to basic care services, like health stations and basic care units—71.3% and 57.6%, respectively.

Violence

Homeless individuals also fall victims to a number of forms of violence. Both the sheltered and the unsheltered reported having suffered verbal attacks, like swearing, insults and humiliation (55% and 70%, respectively); theft or robbery (59% and 64%); physical assaults (38% and 50%); homicide attempts. with a knife or fire weapon (16 and 24%); forced eviction (25% and 38%); and sexual violence (4% and 6%).

Perpetrators are often street dwellers themselves, public security agents (from both the civil and military police forces, as well as the city guard), private security agents and pedestrians.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira