The old Centro Pop building becomes a shelter for homeless people. More than a year after the move, the building where the Specialized Reference Center for Homeless People (Centro POP) operated, in the center of Rio Branco, remains unused. According to reports obtained by Rede Amazônica Acre, the structure is deteriorated and serves as a shelter for homeless people who travel through the region. Last year, in May, the city hall moved the agency's operations to a new address, in Conjunto Castelo Branco. The change occurred amid protests from residents of neighborhoods close to the chosen location. (Remember more below) ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp Images taken by the report show graffiti, accumulation of rubble and damaged walls in the center's old headquarters. It is also possible to notice people entering and leaving the property throughout the day. Unused building accumulates rubble Reproduction/Rede Amazônica Acre In a note, the city hall informed that the space was ceded to the municipality and that after the move, the property was returned to the Court of Justice of Acre, owner of the location. The TJ-AC reported that regarding the property, located next to the Palace of Justice, and given the definition of new institutional needs, a project was prepared to readjust the space, which will now support the activities of the Palace of Justice. (Check the full note below) READ MORE Under protests, the new headquarters of Centro POP is defined by the City of Rio Branco; rent exceeds R$6,000 At a hearing, Human Rights secretary and community leader clash over the move to the POP Center: 'liar' Second cold wave: More than 200 blankets are delivered to homeless people in Rio Branco "The project has already been analyzed and approved by the Elias Mansour Culture Foundation (FEM), a necessary step due to the characteristics of the property. Currently, the process is being processed at Rio Branco City Hall to obtain licenses and approvals urban planning. Only after the completion of this phase will the Judiciary be able to begin executing the work", cited the response. The old headquarters of the Centro Pop is deteriorated in Rio Branco Reproduction/Rede Amazônica Acre Impasse of the POP Center In April last year, the Secretariat of Social Assistance and Human Rights (Sasdh) of Rio Branco began studies to move the Centro POP, which operated in the center of the capital of Acre, to another address. According to the ministry, the change of address was necessary because the structure of the building was no longer able to provide services, in addition to constant complaints from traders about vandalism and theft in the region. Sasdh said it was carrying out studies to assess where the space should be transferred. One of the locations was the Baixada da Sobral region. Secretary João Marcos Luz also mentioned that the change could be made to the Bosque, Floresta or Castelo Branco region. The location was defined and a rental contract for R$6,200 per month was published in the Official State Gazette (DOE), however, without revealing the location. The change began on the same day, at Conjunto Castelo Branco. Still in the study phase, when the city council avoided confirming the new address, residents of Baixada da Sobral began to express dissatisfaction with the possibility -- which ended up materializing -- of the arrival of the POP Center. Trader Afonso Gomes has a business in the region and thought the decision was inappropriate. On May 16, a protest against the change of address closed traffic at the entrance to a hill on Rua Bola Preta, very close to the center's new headquarters. Three days later, protesters closed Rua Rio de Janeiro, in the Mascarenhas de Moraes neighborhood, neighboring Castelo Branco and Baixada. Until that date, the city hall had not yet confirmed the new location, and stated that it was evaluating possible properties. Even under protests and criticism, the change was maintained and the POP Center remains at a new address. According to the secretariat, the center serves around 600 people per day. Vulnerable situation Acre had 557 people living on the streets as of October last year, according to a study produced by the Citizenship Hubs program at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The survey shows that the capital Rio Branco is home to 481 of these residents. Also according to the study, both the state and the capital are in 25th place nationally in terms of the total number of homeless residents, ahead of Tocantins and Amapá and their capitals. This is the highest rate reached by Acre since the survey began, in 2018. That year, around 182 people lived on the streets. As a result, the number represents an increase of 32.6%. Review Acre’s news programs