Santo André: slum upgrading and social inclusion

Abstract

This paper deals with an experience of slum upgrading in the municipality of “Santo André Mais Igual” Program, which links several social programs into a broader strategy aimed at fighting social exclusion. The slum population has been increasing in Santo André, and the city council has been implementing policies aimed at slum upgrading, as far as possible,. The methodology of interventions in slum areas has been refined and major advances have been achieved. Institutional advances concerned the integration of activities and urban design strategies focused on the integration of slums into the urban fabric are elements that must be pointed out. However, although the improvement in living conditions of the community have been significant, major challenges still remain to be faced in scaling up the program. This study suggests that, in order to make the local government actions more extensive, it is necessary to establish a stronger link of the housing and the overall urban policies, to combine the interventions in slums with housing provision programs aimed, and to obtain resources from higher levels of government.