State monitored housing project for people who have completed drug treatment advances in condominiums in the eastern zone of São Paulo, but the implementation method, communication with building managers, and the limits of residential use fuel a dispute involving residents, government, and Justice.
The São Paulo government allocated 19 CDHU apartments to a monitored housing program for people who have completed drug use treatment, a measure that sparked protests, blockades, and legal disputes in condominiums in the eastern part of the capital.
Located in areas such as Itaquera and AE Carvalho, the units had been vacant for about two decades after being repossessed by the housing company due to the previous buyers’ default, and they received renovations, furniture, and appliances at a reported cost of R$ 380,000.
According to the State Department of Social Development, each apartment can accommodate up to four residents, with stable occupancy and technical support during social reintegration, while families can stay together and single participants will share the property based on individual program evaluation.
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Although the government claims there was prior dialogue with condominium representatives, building managers report that they only understood the purpose of the works after the arrival of beds, mattresses, and appliances, an episode that triggered banners, a march, and the prevention of entry for hired staff.
Residents demand information about collective housing
Thaís Romero, manager of one of the involved complexes, states that CDHU officials initially said the renovated properties would be directed to the housing queue, but the unusual amount of furniture led residents to demand formal explanations about the planned occupancy.
According to Romero, the meeting held on May 21 only occurred after the insistence of the condominium members; meanwhile, the government maintains that representatives from the Drug Policy Directorate discussed documents, internal rules, and procedures with building managers, advisors, and legal counsel.
During a visit to the condominiums on June 18, the Folha heard from five building managers, and three said they had not received sufficient information until then; among the reports, one mentioned six beds, while another stated that 16 were distributed between two units.
Although the number of beds has drawn attention, the state management declares that no apartment will have more than four residents and adds that the distribution will consider profile, family ties, comfort, and well-being, without a rotation similar to temporary accommodations.
Responsible for execution, Reencontro, Renovar, and Casarão Brasil should monitor participants through visits, in-person or remote assistance, and messaging apps, in addition to offering support related to abstinence, resuming studies, and access to work.
Protests take dispute to São Paulo’s Justice
In June, resistance gained strength when residents organized a protest and, in at least one condominium, prevented the entry of furniture and teams responsible for implementation, leading the state to resort to the courts to ensure the start of the pilot project.
On July 13, an injunction ordered that the condominium managed by Romero allow access to those responsible, arguing that the blockade interrupted a housing and reintegration policy aimed at people in situations of social vulnerability.
At the same time, the decision imposed precautions on the public authority, such as respecting internal regulations and allowing monitors to circulate only as necessary for professional activities, in an attempt to reconcile the program’s execution with security and condominium routine.
Eliana Borges, state coordinator of drug policy, stated at a council meeting held on June 26, 2025, that the houses do not have signs and that participants are advised to preserve their privacy when approached by neighbors.
Residential allocation enters legal debate
In the assessment of lawyer Rodrigo Karpat, a specialist in condominium law, the presence of groups accompanied by contracted entities may open a discussion about a possible change in residential purpose, although the Department of Social Development rejects comparisons with republics or short-term accommodations.
On May 7, 2026, the Superior Court of Justice decided that properties used professionally for short stays, such as those advertised on digital platforms, require the approval of two-thirds of the condominium owners when there is a change in the purpose provided for in the convention.
On the other hand, the government argues that this precedent does not directly apply to monitored housing, as residents will remain stably, without commercial exploitation or frequent alternation, and will be linked to individual monitoring during the final stage of social reintegration.
Carolina Diniz, from Conectas Human Rights, believes that therapeutic housing can contribute to resocialization, but assesses that the implementation without sufficiently clear communication increased distrust and conveyed to residents the perception of a policy conducted in an improvised manner.
Contracts provide for transfers to responsible entities
In the contracts, Casarão Brasil will receive R$ 30,000 monthly and Renovar, R$ 50,000, for overseeing 14 units, while Reencontro will have R$ 8.3 million per year to manage therapeutic houses in the northern zone and five apartments in Itaquera.
Contacted by email and phone, the three entities did not respond, while the discussion remains open on how to reconcile the right to housing and social reintegration with transparency, security, and effective participation of the condominiums directly affected by the public policy.
How can the public authorities reconcile the right to housing and social reintegration with transparency, security, and effective participation of the condominiums directly affected, without increasing stigmas against people who have completed treatment and are trying to rebuild their own routine?
