In Brazil, there are several ways in which to obtain temporary accommodation – through the authorities, via civil society organizations or by individual effort (searching the private market or contacting friends and acquaintances).
The option offered by the government is accommodation in public hostels. In most cases, these places are not specifically intended for foreigners. The hostels all provide the same level of accommodation for persons from other countries and for less well-off Brazilian nationals. Although there are hostels in most major Brazilian cities, there is no guarantee that places will be available for everyone looking for accommodation.
In some cities, there are also shelters administered by civil society organizations, including some which are specifically reserved for immigrants and refugees, although places at these shelters is subject to availability.
Finally, once they are in a more stable financial situation, refugees can seek out options on the market and rent houses or rooms they find themselves. It should be borne in mind that rents in large cities may be high.
Below are listed by city the contact details for civil society organizations and other public bodies responsible for housing:
Specific information about São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília and Manaus can be found in the links below. For other locations, please consult your nearest civil society organization at “How to find us”.
Brasília
Public hostels
• Hostel Conviver (Albercon)
QS 09 – Lote 01/07 – Águas Claras
Telephone: (61) 3356- 4390
(Take the number 306 bus – “Taguatinga Sul”. The bus passes through “Pistão Sul’’. Get off the bus near the Universidade Católica de Brasilia. The hostel is located behind a gas station).
• Associação Casa Santo André – Cidade Acolhedora
EQNM 2/4 – Area Especial
Ceilândia Norte – DF
Telephone: (61) 3702-0677
(Get off the bus at Centro da Ceilândia. The hostel is next to the Associação de Deficientes da Ceilândia).
Manaus
Public hostels:
• Casa do Migrante Jacamim – Albergue público estadual
Av. Mário Ypiranga, 2714 – Flores, Manaus – AM, 69050-030
Telephone: (92) 3878-6800.
Rio de Janeiro
Public hostels:
If you are a refugee, you should approach any “Centro de Referência Especializado de Assistência Social” (CREAS). Below is a link providing addresses for all the CREAS centers in the State of Rio de Janeiro: CREAS Addresses
São Paulo
Public Hostels:
If you are interested in staying in a public hostel, you should contact a CREAS (“Centro de Referência Especializado de Assistência Social”) office which deals with the provision and allocation of permanent or overnight accommodation in São Paulo.
Cáritas Arquiodicesana de São Paulo will refer you to:
• CREAS Bela Vista
Rua Santo Antônio, nº 800 – Telephone: (11) 3129 9216, (11) 3129 9235
• Tenda Bela Vista
Espaço de Convivência – Av. 09 de Julho, 871 – Telephone: (11) 31299216
Civil society hostels
To contact the civil society hostels, you must go through the Cáritas Arquiodicesana de São Paulo (contact information on “How to find us” page).