The The Right to the City and Housing from the Perspective of 'Favelas and Urban Communities' Regularization

Challenges for the Alto da Boa Vista Occupation in Aparecida de Goiânia

Abstract

This article addresses the growing challenge of housing deficits and the formation of informal urban areas such as favelas, highlighting the unequal distribution of adequate housing. This scenario is a result of the capitalist valorization of urban space, which excludes low-income populations from the formal housing market, leading them to seek solutions in informal settlements and reflecting significant urban inequalities. The relevance of the 'right to the city,' as discussed by Henri Lefebvre and other scholars, stands out as a critique of spatial dynamics that limit access to decent housing and active participation in urban life. This concept suggests an approach that understands the complexity of urban dynamics, emphasizing the need for solutions that promote social inclusion and access to decent housing. The article investigates the feasibility of regularizing the Alto da Boa Vista occupation in Aparecida de Goiânia, an informal settlement mapped by IBGE in 2019, questioning whether land regularization is possible under current legislation with the aim of ensuring the right to adequate housing. Using a methodology that includes literature review, analysis of secondary data on housing deficits, documentary research on urban and housing legislation, and a case study of Alto da Boa Vista, the study seeks to verify the possibility of legalizing the occupation, contributing to the discussion on public policies aimed at regularization of informal areas and access to decent housing.