When a house becomes a home: Building dignity in Rio’s favelas

This story comes ahead of the resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, taking place from 29 to 30 May 2025 in Nairobi, which will feature, among others, a high-level dialogue on adequate housing for all. 

Over 40 years ago, Vera Lucia Jorge – or Ms. Vera, as she’s affectionately known – chose Vila do João as her home. Although she wasn’t born there, her children were. Now retired, she lives in a five-room house with her youngest son. 

Vila do João is one of the communities that make up Complexo da Maré, one of Rio de Janeiro’s many favelas. The city has more than 1,070 favelas, where 22 per cent of the population lives – the highest proportion in Brazil. In these areas, the effects of rapid and unequal urban growth are especially visible, and thousands of families remain “invisible” to public authorities – unregistered, undocumented, and living in unsafe or inadequate housing conditions.

Ms. Vera’s deep love for her neighbourhood is evident. “I love it here,” she says, looking around with the warmth of someone speaking about a lifelong friend. Everything she needs is nearby – from markets to outdoor gyms – but for many years, her home was a source of worry rather than comfort.

“It used to be extremely complicated, it was a very poor house indeed,” she recalls. “It was like we didn’t even have a window. We would place a cane against it to hold it close: if anyone touched it, it would fall. We used to keep the door shut by placing the sofa against it.”

Today, her home tells a very different story. With white tile floors, secure iron doors and windows, and a bathroom with running water, the house that once barely held together has become a safe and dignified space to live.

Ms. Vera’s journey began when she was identified through Territórios Sociais (Social Territories) – a programme led by UN-Habitat and the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro to reach families most in need. Designed to ensure that no one is left behind, the initiative identifies the most vulnerable households and helps connect them to essential public services.

She first answered the programme’s questionnaire in 2019. Over the next few years, her situation was monitored, and in 2022, she got the news that her house had been selected for upgrades.

“It was like a Christmas and New Year’s gift,” she recalls.The renovations were carried out under Casa Carioca, a municipal initiative that uses data from Territórios Sociais to guide housing improvements for low-income families. For Ms. Vera, it meant finally having a solid roof, secure windows, and the peace of mind that comes with living in a safer, healthier home.

Created to address the widespread exclusion many families face in Rio’s favelas, Territórios Sociais is built on three pillars: active search, integrated service, and monitoring. The programme tackles invisibility by reaching those left out of social assistance networks, documenting their needs, and supporting coordinated action to reduce vulnerability.

By May 2025, more than 295,000 interviews had been conducted and over 60,000 families identified as priorities for public assistance – a significant step toward making invisible communities visible again. 

“Casa Carioca’s partnership with the Territórios Sociais programme was extremely important since we can now skip the diagnosis stage as it already exists. With this data, the project is much more informed, which is fundamental. Home improvement is not just the physical part: it affects a person’s self-esteem as well,” says Marli Peçanha, former Secretary of Community Action and now Deputy Mayor for Major Favela Complexes in Rio de Janeiro.

For Ms. Vera, the renovation meant more than a better house – it brought a renewed sense of pride and belonging. She was equally moved by the broader changes in her neighbourhood. “They made very good changes in the community. It was great. As a resident, I loved the project.”

The Territórios Sociais programme is supported by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall and the Pereira Passos Municipal Urban Planning Institute, with technical cooperation from UN-Habitat. It currently operates in the ten largest favela complexes in the city and aims to reach over 486,000 households as it expands to new territories.