Homelessness increases in Sao Paulo due to pandemic

Social activists in São Paulo say the coronavirus pandemic is causing an increase in the number of homeless people in the Brazil's largest city. Before the pandemic, local authorities counted more than 200,000 families waiting for adequate housing in São Paulo, a city of 12 million. The human rights and research group LabCidade estimates more than 2,000 families have lost their homes in São Paulo state since March, with another 1,000 facing the same risk in upcoming weeks.

It is a high figure for a state with 46 million residents, about the same population as Spain. At least 28 homeless people have died and some 286 have been infected with COVID-19 according to city authorities.