UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Recognition Spotlight: Homeless Population in Governador Valadares/MG

The UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition is proud to announce the formal recognition of the initiative ‘Homeless Population in Governador Valadares/MG’ as an outstanding example of humanities-anchored, transdisciplinary sustainability science.

This recognition follows a rigorous evaluation of the project’s alignment with BRIDGES’ principles, emphasising its ethical, transformative, and socially responsible practices.

This initiative seeks to understand the lived experiences of homeless individuals in Governador Valadares, identifying the drivers of displacement and developing collective pathways for social inclusion through interdisciplinary research and community dialogue.

Led by the Vale do Rio Doce University (UNIVALE), this project proposes to listen directly to the homeless population of Governador Valadares through group discussions and comprehensive surveys. Since 2016, there has been a significant lack of updated data regarding this demographic, a gap that severely hinders the creation of effective public policies.

The project investigates origins, education, access to healthcare, and family ties to form a comprehensive sociodemographic profile. Beyond data collection, the initiative organises open forums that bring together homeless individuals, civil society, government representatives, and the local church. These spaces are designed to collectively reflect on findings and suggest concrete actions, with the ultimate goal of forming a permanent group to monitor and coordinate social inclusion efforts within the city.

Addressing Invisibility

The initiative addresses one of Brazil's most pressing social challenges: the rise in the homeless population. In Governador Valadares, the reliance on official data from 2016 is insufficient given the evident expansion and diversification of this group. This lack of updated diagnoses compromises the development of effective actions. By proposing a new assessment and the collective development of solutions, based on the leadership of homeless people themselves, the project works to advance the fields of social justice and citizenship.

A Transdisciplinary and Humanistic Approach

The proposal is grounded in the humanities and social sciences, drawing particularly on sociology, social psychology, and urban anthropology. It utilises a mixed-methods approach:

Qualitative Methodologies: Focus groups and discussion circles are used to understand perceptions, feelings, and social relationships.

Quantitative Research: A sociodemographic survey captures objective data to outline a clear profile of the population. By valuing experiential knowledge, the project promotes active listening, empathy, and the recognition of everyday knowledge. It is inherently transdisciplinary, encompassing fields such as Social Work, Law, Psychology, Communication, and Public Health.

Key Partnerships

The project is coordinated by faculty and students from the Master's Programme in Integrated Territorial Management (GIT/UNIVALE) and involves researchers from various fields of knowledge. Central to its success is the collaboration with the Diocese of Governador Valadares, specifically through the Pastoral do Povo da Rua (Street People's Pastoral), ensuring a direct link between academic research and community agents with field experience.

• Universidade Vale do Rio Doce (UNIVALE): Academic coordination and execution of research and extension.

• Centre for Multidisciplinary Studies on Regional Development (NEDER): Scientific development and methodological supervision.

• Diocese of Governador Valadares: Institutional support, infrastructure, and coordination with the Street People's Pastoral.

• Homeless Population: Central subjects of the initiative and active participants in focus groups and forums.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)

Through its focus on social inclusion this initiative addresses a number of the UN SDG’s; SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Project Roadmap

To achieve its goals of social transformation and sustainable development, the project follows these defined stages:

• Mapping: Identifying the locations where the homeless population lives.

• Data Collection: Gathering quantitative data for a sociodemographic profile.

• Engagement: Conducting focus groups with participants.

• Dialogue: Organising and holding forums with civil society, public authorities, and the Street People's Pastoral.

• Co-creation: Joint development of action proposals.

• Sustainability: Creating a permanent monitoring and advocacy forum.

• Dissemination: Scientific and community production to share results.

Impact and Benefits for Society

The project aims to produce a fresh, updated diagnosis that provides fundamental data for the formulation of evidence-based public policies.

• Short Term: Strengthening dialogue between different sectors and holding participatory forums.

• Medium Term: Establishing a Permanent Forum to monitor proposals and serve as a platform for political and social advocacy.

• Long Term: Reducing social exclusion and recognising the dignity of homeless people.

Initially focused on a local level, the project is poised to become a methodological benchmark with the potential for regional expansion across the Southeast region. By empowering vulnerable populations and combating stigma, the initiative reinforces the social role of the university and ensures that humanistic scientific knowledge addresses the real demands of society.

The work of ‘Homeless Population in Governador Valadares/MG’ strengthens the global UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES network and contributes meaningfully to transformative, humanities-anchored community-led initiatives.

We heartily congratulate the initiative ‘Homeless Population in Governador Valadares/MG’ on the official endorsement of BRIDGES recognition and commend their contribution to highlighting how the humanities can drive sustainability science to address modern environmental crises.

Affiliated Websites Vale do Rio Doce University (UNIVALE)

BRIDGES Recognition: Are you working on a project that’s making a difference to local communities and our shared planet? Learn more about the BRIDGES recognition programme.