Housing activists occupy hotel in downtown Brasília
Members of the Popular Resistance Movement (MRP) occupied early on Monday morning (Sep. 14) Saint Peter Hotel, in Brasília.
Members of the Popular Resistance Movement (MRP) occupied early on Monday morning (Sep. 14) Saint Peter Hotel, in Brasília. The hotel has been shut down since March, due to an eviction order. The housing activists estimate that approximately 400 families have settled in the building's seven floors.
Before taking over the building, the group spent over two months camping in the parking area of the Finance Secretariat of the Federal District. They were removed from the place last Saturday (Sep. 12). “Our goal is housing. We want a home, and until we're given one, we want a temporary solution in the form of an allowance for housing. If the government doesn't have money for an allowance, let them provide a temporary space for us,” said Edson Silva, one of MRP's leaders. Their intention, he says, is to stay in the hotel until their demands are heard.
Silva explained that some of the families received an allowance for a 12-month period, after which it was suspended. Now they are calling for a renewal before they are provided with housing. Other families want to sign up to start receiving an allowance as well.
Demonstrators, among whom families with children, have settled in hotel rooms; many have occupied the reception area.
Demonstrators, among whom families with children, have settled in hotel rooms; many have occupied the reception area.
Acilino Ribeiro, Subsecretariat for Social Movements and Popular Participation in the Federal District, talked to the activists in the morning and said that the government will continue its dialogue with the demonstrators.
He reported that movement members called up a meeting with representatives from the Company for Housing Development in the Federal District (Codhab) and from the Secretariat for Human and Social Development. According to Acilino, the government intervened because the matter is of public concern, even though the occupation is taking place in a private area.
“We hope a compromise is reached by the end of the afternoon so that they may leave the hotel and we can find a solution to meet their demands as well,” he declared.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Housing activists occupy hotel in downtown Brasília
