More than 1,800 people live on the streets of Cuiabá; census begins to profile the population

The work takes place in a worrying scenario. A survey by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), based on the Single Registry for Social Programs (CadÚnico) platform, shows that Mato Grosso has 4,357 homeless people. Of this total, 1,837 are in Cuiabá, equivalent to 42% of the records in the state.

According to UFMG researcher Cristiano Silva, most people arrive on the streets after family conflicts. Issues related to mental health are also among the factors that contribute to this situation. After that, vulnerability tends to increase.

"The vast majority end up on the street due to family conflicts, often associated with mental health issues. As the street is an environment of constant violence, where people are hungry and cold, many turn to alcohol as an escape valve, which can lead to the use of other drugs", he explained.

Among those trying to change this reality is Pedro Cardoso, 40 years old. Homeless, he says that drug addiction was decisive for breaking family ties and life on the streets.

"Addiction and drinking get in the way of us. They take us away from our family and end up putting us in this situation. We try to get up, go back home, but end up falling back again", he reported.

Pedro was one of the people assisted during Operation Real Census, which provided food, medical care and social assistance to homeless people in different parts of the capital.

Another patient was Solange Echeverria dos Santos, 53 years old. She sought out the team because of a severe headache and said she was having difficulty giving up drug addiction.

"I want to quit. I have my grandchildren, my family doesn't do drugs. But I don't have the strength. My body demands drugs", he said.

According to nurse Liliane Ferreira Souza, from the Consultório na Rua program, Solange faces a series of health problems that make treatment even more challenging.

"She suffers from depression, takes medication and still faces the after-effects of a stroke. All of this is worsened by drug use, which is a constant struggle", he explained.

Street diagnosis to guide public policies In addition to immediate assistance, the main purpose of Operation Real Census is to collect detailed information about who lives on the streets of Cuiabá. For two days, teams travel to different regions of the city to identify the number of people, family ties, health conditions, documentation, use of alcohol and other drugs and other needs.

According to the municipal secretary of Social Assistance, Hélida Vivela, the municipality already has a periodically updated registry, but intends to intensify this monitoring to better understand the reality of this population.

“We have a registry that is updated every six months, but now we are going to intensify these actions and, probably, carry out this survey every four months, so that we have a real number and can monitor these people, not only through Centro Pop, but also in partnership with the State to develop new public policies”, he stated.

The action is carried out in conjunction with the Government of Mato Grosso. For the state secretary of Public Security, Suzane Size, the survey will allow not only to expand reception, but also to refer people in situations of chemical dependency for treatment.

"Generally, the homeless population is vulnerable and also involved in criminal acts. We are carrying out this survey in places such as Praça Ipiranga and Morro da Luz to then take appropriate steps in a joint action with the City of Cuiabá", he highlighted.

At the end of Operation Real Census, the expectation is that the municipality will have a more accurate diagnosis of the homeless population, allowing future public policies to be planned based on the real needs of those living in this condition.