The POPULATION IN STREET SITUATION AND THE LOWER CIRCUIT OF THE URBAN ECONOMY IN CAMPOS DOS GOYTACAZES/RJ

Abstract

The population in street situation has a strong presence in Brazilian cities, revealing itself as an expression of urban poverty in the country. In a context of excessive deprivation, these individuals appropriate specific spaces and resources to guarantee minimum conditions of survival, thus making the territory used a shelter. In this context, the present study aims to assess the uses of the territory by the homeless population, focusing on the work activities that these subjects perform in the Campos dos Goytacazes Center, RJ, in their survival strategies. The research is of a qualitative nature, based on bibliographic research and fieldwork, where observations and interviews with previously prepared scripts were used. Remarkably, the findings indicate that this population group carries out activities that are part of the lower circuit of the urban economy, such as the collection of recyclable materials, the sale of sweets and handicrafts, as well as the work of “flanelinha”, hence constituting new uses for the territory.