Attractions of Rio de Janeiro: Football, Carnivals, Beaches and Mountains – But Also Favelas.

South-East Coast of Brazil, second largest city in Brazil.

Football, carnivals, beaches, mountains. Also high crime rates and favelas. People are attracted to those entertainments but are unable to afford the services and end up living in favelas.

Informal settlements in Brazil.

Extremely vulnerable to being destroyed by natural disasters (e.g. landslides, floods). Risk of eviction. People are vulnerable to catching disease due to no clean supply of water (overcrowding causes disease to spread quickly; no toilets, showers or proper sewer systems attract mosquitoes). Lack of services and jobs. High unemployment and crime rates.

Local government and resident partnership. Residents are given legal ownership of their housing and materials are upgraded. Housing is connected to electricity and sewers built. Local labour is used so that the government does not have to pay, but also that the locals are learning new skills. Legal ownership means that people are prepared to invest in their houses. Clean water supplies and electricity means that peoples' health starts to improve.

Improved housing conditions. Gain legal ownership. Health improved from clean water supplies and sewer systems. Less risk from natural disasters. New skills learnt when carrying out improvements, also allowing them to find work.

Local residents have to start to pay tax. Less health problems for the government to pay for. Positive multiplier effect on economy. Crime rates reduced as local residents find work and serve the community. Free labour - the government may even provide materials for labour. Better roads means that policing and rubbish collection is easier.

Local government provides land and build new roads with electricity and water connections. Local residents are given or sold plots of land that they can build their houses on. Some site and service schemes will have the built housing sold to poor low income families.

1990

$300 million

Houses were made legal and extended. Roads were built so rubbish collection could start. Schools and medical facilities were improved and sports facilities upgraded. Local labour was used to reduce unemployment and learn new skills.

New city 20km outside Rio de Janeiro. Self-contained city with its own shops, schools and medical facilities etc. However, the city was only accessible for the rich and now it has its own favelas.

140,000

Reduce housing pressure.