Proteção social à população em situação de rua: um estudo sobre o Brasil e Portugal

Abstract

The object of this thesis is to reflect on safeguards to the population in a street situation in the city of Salvador, Brazil, and the homeless people in the city of Porto, as they are referred to, in Portugal. We examine similarities and dissimilarities among this target group and the assistance provided in both countries, pointing out actions undertaken during the Coronavirus pandemic in Salvador. Hence, in order to achieve the proposed objective, the methodology employed focused on an analysis based on bibliographic review, documentary research, visits to shelter and support institutions, and on observations and records in field diaries that enabled knowing the characteristics, the reasons for being in the streets, the way of life, the role of the State, and the framework of Brazilian and Portuguese public policies. We found that, with the work society crisis that afflicted both Brazil and the European continent, particularly Portugal, causing the growth of the industrial reserve army, both nations revealed themselves even more incapable of integrating the whole productive population, maintaining a labor reserve. This difficult situation clearly shows the inability of the State, market, families and the community to cope with the protection of its members, which is at the root of their “banishment” to the “world” of the streets. Realizing that the absolute number of individuals under these circumstances with a similar profile is still unknown in both societies – with the exception of color and quantity – comprising, for the most part, men and young people of working age, the feminine presence, albeit low, is still growing. In the municipality of Salvador the social care network has expanded, but still has not reached the totality of this social segment. In the Porto district the service is provided by public, private, NGOs and volunteer institutions engaged in a more cohesive work. This study points out the need to analyze the particularities and difficulties of such a group, and to critically consider the care services within the sphere of social policies.