Favela Bairro Project- Squatter Settlement case study Changing urban environments

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- Squatter Settlement case study

Facts:

·

Rio is in south east Brazil

·

It has 600 squatter settlements (which are known

as Favelas)

·

Favela Bairro Project started in 1995

·

Project involves 250,000 people

·

40% of $300 million funding was from the local

government

Social improvements:

·

Daycare and afterschool schemes to look after

children whilst their parents work

·

Adult education classes to improve literacy

·

Services to help drug addicts, alcoholics and

victims of domestic violence

Economic Improvements:

·

Residents can apply to legally own their

properties

·

Training schemes help people to get better jobs

Environmental Improvements:

·

Replacement of wooden buildings with brick

·

Homes on dangerously steep slopes are removed

·

Widening and paving of streets to allow easier

access (especially for emergency services)

·

Provision of basic services such as clean water,

electric and weekly rubbish collection

Community involvement:

·

Residents choose which improvements they want in

their favela

·

Neighbourhood associations form to help

communicate and make decisions

·

New services are staffed by residents, providing

training and income

Successes of the project:

·

Standard of living has improved

·

Property values have doubled

·

Local businesses have double