The Roofless Movement in Sao Paolo, Brazil gains momentum as the needs for affordable housing are continuously not met.
The "Movimento dos Sem Teto, or the 'roofless' movement, an urban phenomenon in Brazil in which families take over empty downtown high-rise apartment buildings, shuttered government offices, former hotels and, once, an abandoned movie theater in Sao Paulo" has significantly increased occupations in recent months. "The 'roofless' have modeled their fight after Brazil's largest social movement, the Landless Rural Workers Movement, a two-decade struggle to obtain land for the poor in a nation where fewer than 5 percent of the people own more than half the arable land." State officials estimate a housing backlog of 400,000 units in the metro area of Sao Paolo, "but independent research estimates the need for housing is much higher. Already as many as half the city's 10.5 million people live in illegal, unregulated housing."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: 'Roofless' Brazilians seek shelter

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)