The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) organized, on Monday (27), in Belém (PA), at Pedro Vieira Institute, the first one of three regional launches of the 1st National Census of the Population Experiencing Homelessness. This initiative is a historical landmark as it establishes, for the first time, a national statistical survey exclusively aimed at this population segment. 

The launch took place during an event of Programa Cidadania PopRua, promoted by the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC). 

Developed by the IBGE in partnership with public institutions, civil society organizations and social movements, the Census consists of a count and demographic characterization of the population experiencing homelessness in the country, and represents an essential instrument for the strengthening of public policies aimed at this population segment, and provides a robust, standardized and comparable statistical base. 

The survey allows the identification, with methodological rigor, of territorial distribution, the sociodemographic profile and the living conditions of the population experiencing homelessness, and fills a historical gap resulting from the fragmentation and heterogeneity of existing sources.  

The president of the IBGE, Marcio Pochmann, participated in the opening ceremony by video. Pochmann mentioned that this Census represents the consolidation of a long process intended to guarantee the rights of a population that has long fought to be counted. 

“This Census will be a landmark, which is rescuing and giving visibility to a segment that was not part of surveys. And now we give an important step. I would like to thank city and state governments for their efforts in doing this survey and helping in the formulation of public policies that have become a reference,” he said, also highlighting the fact that 11 thousand workers will be working in the Census all over Brazil.

Regional releases take place two weeks after the Workshop on Experiences in Census of the Population Experiencing Homelessness, conducted by the IBGE on April 13, 14 and 15, with support by the General Attorney's Office (AGU), whose facilities were used in Rio de Janeiro. Representatives of public power, universities, social movements and international bodies participated in discussions about good practices aimed at the construction of a National Census of the Population Experiencing Homelessness in Brazil. 

Malu Gama, director of Policies for the Population Experiencing Homelessness of MDHC, celebrated the joint launch in the capital of Pará, which will be based in two branches of Cidadania PopRua, and explained that, nowadays, the public policiy for the population experiencing homelessness is based on estimates, and that damages its effectiveness, a problem to be corrected by the Census.  

"When we get to know, in fact, how many people experiencing homelessness there are in our country, who they are, how many women, how many men, how many cisgender people, how many transgender people, how many elderly people, etc., we will be able to create a much more effective policy," he explained.

To prepare the Census, the IBGE will use information from municipalities and administrative records on the number of people experiencing homelessness. Data from the SUAS Census and CADÚnico, with corrections for possible undercount, will be references for the sizing of the survey.

The president of the hosting institution Padre Vieira Institute, Miller Maia Vieira, celebrated that, along with the launch of the Census, the Institute was publicizing the structure of the support facility for the population experiencing homelessness. "Belém is the first capital in the North to launch and have this facility. Pedro Vieira Institute and the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship will do their best for this vulnerable population that is in great need." "Our doors will be open to everyone: residents and the community," he stated.

At the event, the IBGE's Director of Surveys, Gustavo Junger, stated that the launch of the 1st National Census of the Population Experiencing Homelessness is a milestone for IBGE, on the eve of its 90th anniversary. "A historical demand of society that is finally beginning to materialize with the resumption of tests in 2023, which allowed for the development of a consistent technical project, in accordance with international and municipal experiences," the director explained.

The manager of Traditional Peoples and Communities and Specific Population Groups at the IBGE, Marta Antunes, celebrated the launch: “Launching the 1st National Census of the Population Experiencing Homelessness within the framework of the CIAMP-RUA Meeting reinforces the importance of working with and together with public bodies and social movements, and this is how IBGE accepts the challenge of conducting this census for the first time.”

The technical coordinator of the IBGE Demographic Census, Giulia Scappini, emphasizes that the methodology is being built in a participatory manner. "This social participation is essential for planning mapping strategies and for the continuous improvement of the methodology, ensuring a greater capacity to portray the heterogeneity of this population and its distribution across the territory," says Giulia

Damasco, general coordinator of Census Operations at the IBGE, explained that the events are part of a strategy that serves both IBGE and society, as a two-way street. “We will need to apply our tradition of excellence in the production of statistics and, with sensitivity and dialogue with the institutions and organizations that work with this population, build a methodology that, at the same time, respects the dignity of the people being counted and is capablesuceeds in generating reliable results for the development of public policies,” he explained.

At the event, the official website for the Census of the Population Experiencing Homelessness was also presented. The page gathers information about the census operation, its schedule, the history of the topic, the survey structure, partnerships, and institutional content.

In the capital of Pará, the ceremony also included the presence of representatives from state and federal agencies: Ricardo Ganzer, representing the State Secretariat for Social Assistance, Labor, Employment and Income of Pará; Anderson Miranda, president of the Intersectoral Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Policy for the Homeless Population (CIAMP-Rua Nacional); Rodrigo da Silva Leite, vice-president of the Dom Azcona and Sister Henriqueta Institute of Human Rights; Edna Gomes da Silva, president of Funpapa (Pope John XXIII Foundation); and Eduardo Luz, acting national secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights.

Following Belém, the next regional launch will take place on April 28th at 9:00 AM in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), at the Integrated Service Center for People Experiencing Homelessness (CIPOP-RUA/RJ). The agenda will conclude in São Paulo (SP) on April 30th at 1:00 PM at Sesc Santo Amaro. All three events will be streamed on DigitaI IBGE. In-person participation requires prior registration via email to eventos@ibge.gov.br, indicating the city of interest.

Service – Regional launches of the 1st National Census of the Homeless Population 
Belém (PA)
Date: 27 de abril
Time: 5 pm
Venue: Instituto Pedro Vieira.
Travessa 3 de maio, 2389 - Cremação
Streamed on: Digital IBGE

Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Date: April 28
Time: 9h
Venue: Centro de Atendimento Integrado às Pessoas em Situação de Rua – CIPOP-RUA/RJ
Rua Senador Pompeu, s/n
Streamed on: Digital IBGE

São Paulo (SP)
Date: April 30
Time: 1 pm
Venue: Sesc Santo Amaro
Rua Amador Bueno, 505 – Santo Amaro
Streamed on:Digital IBGE