The president said that the responsibility lies with the State that "has not dedicated itself to taking care of the poorest". | Photo: Presidential Press

Brasilia, December 12 (RHC)-- The administration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has presented a support program for the homeless population, as part of which it decreed the regulation of the so-called Father Júlio Lancellotti Law, which prohibits hostile constructions in free spaces for public use.

At the Executive headquarters, the president presented the plan that allocates one billion reais (204 million dollars) for public policies for the homeless.  Meanwhile, he emphasized that the responsibility for this situation falls on the State which, he stressed, "has not dedicated itself to taking care of the poorest."

"This palace has already been visited by princes, queens, presidents and businessmen, but it has rarely been opened for the participation of the most suffering people", said Lula at the event where he received dozens of people living on the streets.

Lula's program seeks cooperation between regional and municipal governments, universities, as well as civil society movements in order to provide care for the homeless.  As a result, this sector will have easier access to popular housing plans, which will be preceded by an expansion of municipal shelters.

In turn, with the decree of the Father Julio Lancellotti Law, the prohibition of constructions carried out to remove homeless people from open public spaces was implemented.

The law is named after Father Júlio Lancellotti, who works in the municipality of São Paulo on behalf of the more than 60,000 homeless people and has repeatedly denounced hostile architecture.