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The landscape of social assistance in Brazil underwent a significant change this week when the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, enacted Law 14,674 of 2023. This new legal framework announces a relevant development: the creation of a rental assistance benefit.
Since 2020, discussion about this benefit has begun to gain prominence, and it is currently established as a strategy to support an especially vulnerable segment of our country.
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According to the law, rental assistance will be specifically intended for women who are victims of domestic violence. This focus is a response to the urgent need to provide support and safety to women living in dangerous situations in their homes.
The enactment of Law 14,674 was officially published in the latest edition of the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), dated September 15, 2023. This action symbolizes significant progress in strengthening strategies to combat violence against women in Brazil.
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It is important to emphasize that Bill 4,875/20 gave rise to this law. It was approved by the Federal Senate in August and, with presidential approval, rental assistance is incorporated into the protections provided for by the Maria da Penha Law.
This fact underscores the government's commitment to combating and mitigating domestic violence, ensuring victims broader and more effective support.
Therefore, would you like to better understand this recent proposal for rental assistance focused on this vulnerable group? Continue reading, as we will clarify several points here.
Discover more about the details of the new legislation
Under the new guidelines, the decision to grant rental assistance will no longer be solely the responsibility of states and municipalities, but a judicial decision.
This aims to support women who find themselves in socially and financially vulnerable situations, especially those who have had to distance themselves from their homes due to threats related to domestic violence.
Senator Margareth Buzetti, responsible for the report, argues that the rental assistance will be funded by states and municipalities through funds aimed at social assistance for individuals in situations of temporary vulnerability.
She supports her view by pointing to Brazil’s alarming statistics: every two minutes, five women suffer assaults, and in more than 80% of these cases, the aggressor is their partner, boyfriend, or ex.
One of the main factors perpetuating this abusive practice is the victims’ economic dependence on their partners.
Minister of Women Cida Gonçalves, together with the enactment, emphasized that only 134 cities in Brazil have shelters for women at risk. And the states manage only 43 shelter facilities.
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These places symbolize housing options for those benefiting from the rental assistance, thus seeking to provide a safe place while promoting their rehabilitation and social reintegration.
In São Paulo, rental assistance already exists!
In São Paulo (SP), a rent assistance scheme was already in place, similarly aimed at women who are victims of domestic violence.
However, this program emerged in response to the alarming increase in cases of assault during the Covid-19 pandemic.
São Paulo legislation not only aims to provide financial support to these women, but also simplifies their access to shelters in the city in the face of risks or imminent violence.
Recognizing the urgency of these situations, in which the victim often needs to leave her home suddenly, rent assistance becomes vital.
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Moreover, it is crucial to note that this program stands out due to the absence of bureaucratic requirements, such as the mandatory submission of a police report or a Judicial Protective Order to access the assistance.
The legislation determines that the Municipal Department of Assistance and Social Development play a fundamental role in supporting women who are victims of domestic violence.
Thus, to expedite the process, the department operates through a Vacancy Center intended for requests for rent assistance in emergency situations.
In conclusion, assistance to victims is provided through the social support centers of the São Paulo metropolitan area, such as CRAS, CREAS, and Centro POP.
It is essential to emphasize that women who are victims of domestic violence with children aged zero to five have priority in this rent assistance program.
