Locação social por PPP e o direito à moradia: uma análise crítica e dialógica das experiências de São Paulo e Recife no cenário brasileiro

Abstract

This thesis critically analyzes the ineffectiveness of the right to housing in Brazil and assesses the feasibility of social rental through public–private partnerships (PPPs) as a mechanism to guarantee this fundamental right. In the face of a persistent housing deficit—predominantly characterized by excessive rent burdens and the growing financialization of urban space— traditional housing policies focused on homeownership have proven insufficient, perpetuating socio-spatial segregation. The research, qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive in nature, employed bibliographic and documentary approaches, complemented by a comparative case study. The experiences of PPPs in social rental in the city of São Paulo (the Paulista Housing PPP under the “Pode Entrar” Program) and the Morar no Centro project in Recife (in the structuring phase) were analyzed. The results indicate that, while social rental presents itself as a promising alternative for the decommodification of housing, the promotion of urban inclusion, and tenure security for low-income populations, its implementation via PPPs entails significant risks of financialization. The São Paulo case showed how weaknesses in governance, the lack of clear planning, inadequate risk allocation, and the diversion of resources can compromise social objectives, resulting in the delivery of a minimal number of housing units. Conversely, the Recife project, still in its design phase, projects a more explicit alignment with public purposes, seeking urban regeneration and social inclusion in central areas, although it still faces potential challenges regarding public participation and the balance between social aims and market logic. It is concluded that PPPs are not inherently the best alternative, but they can be viable and necessary tools, provided they are structured, regulated, and supervised by a robust State, with an explicit commitment to subordinating private capital profitability to the social function of housing and to human dignity, through effective governance, citizen participation, integration with other policies, and comprehensive sustainability.