Rio de Janeiro Law School (FGV Direito Rio) launched, on May 23, the 9th volume of the Clinical Series - Cadernos FGV Direito Rio (booklet), entitled "Homeless Population: human rights, public policies and housing programs first ". The publication provides two opinions requested by the Center for Defense of Human Rights of the Public Defender of Rio de Janeiro (Nudedh) about the homeless population. The event was marked by a debate participated by the Coordinator of the Legal Practice Center (NPJ) of FGV Direito Rio, Professor André Mendes, NPJ Clinic Supervisor, Rafaela Moreira, Public Defender and Nudedh Coordinator, Fábio Amado, and the Housing First Coordinator of the Ruas Project, Breno Gouvêa.

Explaining how the work was done, Rafaela Moreira spoke about the realization of a comparative study between some Brazilian cities and also about the international scenario, based on a survey of data and public policies in each of these places.

"We understand that the profile of the population living on the streets is different in each place and therefore it is not possible to treat different causalities in the same way. What we have today is an institutionalized host factory that aims to create an equal formula for everyone, only people on the street come to this situation for different reasons and are in different situations. Today, the great discussion in the world about reception and vulnerability is based on the centrality of the individual and that is what housing first does, "he explains.

Public Defender Fábio Amado spoke about the importance of discussing the issue and changing public policies that today function more as a collection than as a host.

"This paradigm shift takes a different view of what is essential and what is financially advantageous and, above all, of what is efficient, because for decades the policy of sheltering has been absolutely inefficient," he says.

Concluding the speech round, Breno Gouvêa, explained that the housing first is based on three main points: autonomy, placing the participant at the center of the process when making their own decisions; to allow the person to take his next steps when they feel ready for it and, for that, the government must have its doors open; and think of intersectoral policies, and this includes sports and culture.

Breno further explains that housing first assumes that the house is the starting point for social reception. "He puts the person in the house and offers a range of support services such as financial education, connection to courses, education and employment, for example if so desired. It has a lot to do with the question of having doors open to what he wants, "he clarifies.

However, the coordinator of the Ruas Project points out that one has to think in the long term: "Haste is an enemy". And he pointed out that the first advantage one thinks of when talking about an initiative like housing first is financial. "In this sense, all US and European studies show that housing first reduces spending in areas such as public health and safety, for example," he said.

According to professor André Mendes, the event launching the publication and the debate carried out expresses the relevant role played by the Center of Legal Practice. "Many students participated in this work, which was led with talent by Professor Rafaela. We promote the rapprochement between important social actors who want the same thing: to seek alternatives for the population in a street situation, with a focus on housing first. Certainly a positive impact generated by the NPJ of FGV Law Rio, "says the professor.

Volume 9 of the Clinics Series - "Homeless Population: human rights, public policies and housing first programs", is available for download on the FGV Digital Library website.