On August 7, in São Paulo, Brazil, representatives of the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) were delighted to sign the formal Vanguard City partnership agreement with the city administration including the Mayor of São Paulo, Municipal Secretary of Assistance and Social Development, Municipal Secretary for human rights and citizenship, and the Municipal Secretary for International relations. The agreement was also signed with the Institute for Economic Research Foundation (FIPE) as the academic partner. IGH, FIPE, and the city administration are working together on a new initiative to support youth at risk or experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness in São Paulo is a growing problem, with more than 12,000 people living in shelters and more than 20,000 people living on the streets. Recently, as a result of the economic distress of the COVID-19 pandemic, more families with children have become homeless.

São Paulo joins a cohort of cities, states, and countries that have all signed partnership agreements with IGH to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and make progress on goals to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness. This cohort is known as The Vanguard Program; learn more here.