Campinas City Hall presents action plan after MP sues for precarious housing of Warao indigenous people

The situation of 26 indigenous Venezuelan families of the Warao ethnic group living in Campinas (SP) led the Public Ministry of São Paulo (MP-SP) to take legal action after pointing out precarious housing conditions in a property used by the community for two years.

In a meeting held on Monday (21), city hall representatives presented an action plan to assist the 85 migrants residing there.

The measure complies with the decision of the judge responsible for the case, who recognized the vulnerability of the community and had determined that the municipality should present concrete measures to face the problem.

According to prosecutor Cristiane Hillal, progress was made with the presentation of the plan that provides for the inclusion of families in the municipal housing assistance program. Currently, the benefit offers payment of R$605.00 per month, for 12 months, which can be reevaluated at the end of the period.

"The benefit starts to be paid on October 13th. From that date on, they will have time to look for a new place to live", informed the administration.

Now, the prosecutor's expectation is focused on analyzing the conditions of a property that can receive families, an alternative considered fundamental for the effective departure of indigenous people from the place where they currently live.

g1 went to the property located in Jardim Nova Esperança, this Wednesday (23), but the Waraos, fearing some impact on the progress of legal negotiations, did not allow the team to enter.

Currently, the community spends between R$5,500 and R$6,000 per month on housing (including rent, water and electricity), but the infrastructure, according to the public civil action, is precarious.

The group's income comes mainly from the production and sale of handicrafts by women, and the work of adult men of the ethnic group - some work in outsourced cleaning companies, for example.

Defender accompanies

The case is also monitored by the Specialized Center for the Promotion of Racial Equality and Defense of Traditional Peoples and Communities (NUPIR), of the State Public Defender's Office.

According to the agency, monitoring of the Warao community began in March 2026, after a request from the 24th Public Prosecutor's Office of Campinas to carry out a joint visit to Venezuelan indigenous families.

The inspection took place on May 7 and made it possible to map the community's main demands, including access to housing.

After the public civil action was filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office, NUPIR continued to monitor the case and participated in meetings with public bodies involved in the search for solutions.

On September 14, representatives from the Public Defender's Office visited the community again to check on pending demands.

"Since the first meeting, the Warao had reported difficulties related to access to education, work, transportation and health, issues that, at that time, were initially being dealt with by the municipal public authorities", informed the Ombudsman's Office.

In a note, the city of Campinas reported that in addition to including families in the housing assistance program, it has already adopted actions to include and update the Warao in the Single Registry and the federal government's income transfer programs, as well as referrals to the public health network, delivery of basic items and offering food support.

"The City Hall also maintains coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including training municipal teams on the cultural specificities of the Warao people", he highlights.

What the city hall says

Regarding the Venezuelan indigenous families of the Warao ethnic group who live in Campinas, the City Hall informs that:

"He presented to the Court, in the case files, the care plan carried out with this population.

Families have access to social programs available in the municipality and are included in the Housing Assistance Program. The benefit begins to be paid on October 13th. From that date on, they will have time to look for a new place to live.

The Department of Development and Social Assistance maintains monitoring of families, in conjunction with the intersectoral service network. Since 2025, they have been monitored in Jardim Nova Esperança by the Immigrant, Refugee and Stateless Person Reference Service and the Social Approach Service.

Among the actions carried out are inclusion and updating in the Single Registry; access to income transfer programs (all families monitored by the Social Approach Service are included in the Bolsa Família Program); referrals to the municipal health network; monitoring the attendance and school life of children and adolescents; delivery of basic items, such as mattresses, blankets and hygiene kits; and the offer of food support.

At this moment, the Secretariat of Development and Social Assistance maintains dialogue with the National Secretariat of Social Assistance (SNAS/MDS), of the Federal Government, for technical and financial support on the issue.

Negotiations are also underway for a meeting between representatives from Campinas, the Government of the State of São Paulo and the Federal Government, with the aim of discussing strategies for joint action.

The City Hall also maintains coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including training municipal teams on the cultural specificities of the Warao people.

The Municipal Administration will continue to adopt the necessary measures to monitor families, in accordance with the legislation."