Blog

A recent investigation led by the Foundation for the Development of Fortaleza Housing (Fundação de Desenvolvimento Habitacional de Fortaleza, Habitafor) has pointed to 660 buildings in the north-eastern city centre that are currently underused, 120 of which have strong potential for residential development.

With the housing deficit in the city alone estimated at 75,000, the need for urgent solutions has become increasingly important.  At an event held by the Ceará Regional Council for Engineering, Architecture and Agronomy (Conselho Regional de Engenharia, Arquitetura e Agronomia do Ceará, CREA-CE), president of Habitafor Roberto Gomes stated: “there is a misconception the centre of Fortaleza is not adequate for the creation of housing but what is missing, in reality, is the ability to enable properties to be bought back into a liveable state.  The big challenge, therefore, is related to finance and having the resources to be able to invest in popular housing – the prefecture has the plan, but how it will be executed from a funding perspective is not clear.”

According to Gomes, since 2009, the Housing Plan for the Central Area Rehabilitation (Plano Habitacional para Reabilitação da Área Central da Cidade) has been in preparation by the prefecture: “a diagnosis has been undertaken of each part of Fortaleza which has demonstrated that both the public and private sectors have a role to play – the plan has been divided into three steps: a technical examination, an analysis of societal contribution and actions based on field based practical studies.”  A proposal document is expected to be publically released shortly.