Five Percent Favela Reduction Plan Upends Rio Communities

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – MAY 22: A man bathes from a small hose amongst the remains of demolished homes in the Metro Mangueira favela, located near Maracana stadium, on May 22, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The homes were thought to have been knocked down for a parking lot for the stadium, though that has yet to be built. The area has seen some people occupy certain dwellings. Evictions and demolitions have been occurring in Rio favelas ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympic Games in spite of a housing shortage in the city. Rio’s housing and urban planning goals include a planned five percent reduction of areas occupied by favelas by 2016. Alternative affordable housing, generally on the peripheries of the city, is unable to meet demand and some residents complain they have not received adequate compensation for demolished homes. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)