Urban conflicts and the ‘Pinheirinho’ occupation – access to housing and forced removal

Abstract

Deepening the discussion about the right to the city, specifically the right to adequate housing, in this study, an emblematic example of an urban land conflict is presented, represented by the occupation of an idle parcel of urban land. By using the qualitative method, an exploratory and descriptive research of the problematic approached was composed. We describe the destination of an area popularly known as ‘Pinheirinho’, a parcel of land located southbound of São José dos Campos city, which remained abandoned for 30 years, until it had been occupied by 1.789 families in 2004. We present the repercussions concerning the socio-spatial segregation after the repossession process in 2012, and demonstrate the occupants’ resilience in staying. Indifferent to the fact that this was a consolidated occupation, inside a piece of land that failed performing its social function of propriety, and has been in fiscal debt with the municipal government, individual interests were safeguarded in the Pinheirinho eviction process, to the detriment of community welfare. In such a way, the illegal occupation by a socially vulnerable population was tolerated for 8 years.

Keywords:
Social role; Right to the city; Appropriate housing