Homeless Workers Movement
The homeless workers movement (Portuguese: Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto - MTST ) has existed since 1997 and is the largest urban mass movement in Brazil . The MTST is particularly anchored in the favelas . The MTST was originally part of the Landless Landless Movement (MST) .
Since the late 1990s, the MST has backed the Brazilian poor in urban areas. Housing and work were the most pressing problems. Since 1997 the MTST has been organizing occupations of buildings and land by homeless families in cities. Today it is an independent movement that forms strategic alliances with the MST and shares with it political ideas and organizational methods.
Through a combination of direct action and negotiations with the government, the MTST tries to make vacant buildings and areas usable for the homeless and poor. In doing so, they often have to resist violent evacuation attempts by the government. According to the MTST, there are over 5,000,000 residential units in empty buildings in Brazil. That would be enough to give almost all people in Brazil who lack permanent accommodation an apartment. As a result of the occupation of the MTST, many families have received permanent housing.
The most famous line-ups initiated by the MTST are:
- João Cândido - Itapecerica da Serra - (2007-)
- Carlos Lamarca - Osasco - (2002-)
- Chico Mendes - Taboão da Serra - (2005 - 2006)
- Santo Dias / "Ocupação da Volks" - São Bernardo do Campo (2003)
- Rosa Luxemburgo - São Paulo / Osasco - (2004-)
- Anita Garibaldi - Guarulhos - (2001-)