Squatter settlements in Brazil and in São Paulo: improvements in the analyzes from the 2010 Census Territorial Reading

Abstract In light of the forms of access to housing for low-income population in Brazil, this paper analyzes, specifically, the living conditions of slum dwellers using available census data. It evaluates the meaning of living in a slum in Brazil during the first decade of the 21st century according to some key issues: was there an increase in the number of slum dwellers in Brazil? Where was this increase most significant? Was this increase produced by new slums or by the increase in slums’ population density? What are the characteristics of slum households? Was there any improvement in infrastructure-related indicators? The paper is also an unprecedented effort to analyze the 2010 Census "Territorial Reading", a single database for slum households.