Street-dwellers die from cold in São Paulo

Another homeless man has died in São Paulo possibly because of cold weather, the local archdiocese said Tuesday (Jun. 14). Nailson Paulo da Silva, who looked about 50 years old, died yesterday (13) in the central area of the city. He is possibly the fifth person to have died due to the recent cold spell in São Paulo.

Homeless people have faced temperatures that get as low as 0°C. A man was found dead close to the Santana subway station, North São Paulo, on Thursday (9). The body of a woman was found near a coach terminal on Friday (10). The body of another homeless man, João Carlos Rodrigues, 55, was found dead in the early hours of Friday. And the lifeless body of Adilson Justino, unknown age, was found by military police on Paulista Avenue.

The local civil protection office has issued a warning because of the low temperatures. According to the local government's Emergency Management Center, temperature averaged at 7°C this morning. Low temperatures are also expected for today (14), with fog expected in the Greater São Paulo Area.

On Monday (13), a weather station in Capela do Socorro reported 0°C at 3:30am. This has been the lowest temperature reported in 12 years.

To stave off the chill, street-dwellers around the city have slept close to each other, used donated camping tents and taken shelter under the canopies, and tapped into blankets and cardboard boxes.

Despite the low temperatures, many of them avoid going to homeless shelters at night for a number of reasons including bed shortage, distance from the city center or their current location, and even pet bans—many of them have dog companions.

Translated by Mayra Borges