Wealth Growing in Some Favela Communities

By Mary Carroll, Contributing Reporter

The Rio Times
October 30, 2012

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the same way that distinction can be drawn between the lower, middle and upper classes of most neighborhoods, the economic differences are becoming more apparent in some of Rio’s favela communities. Following the general dynamics of the city, the favelas of Zona Sul (South Zone) are widely held to be more prosperous than those of their counterparts in Zona Norte (North Zone).
Even so, residents from both areas range from extremely poor to those who are managing to climb up the financial ladder. The government’s Police Pacification Unit (UPP) program has stabilized security in many communities, helping businesses grow.

According to a survey released this month by the institute Popular Data and Central Única das Favelas, thirteen percent of residents from one thousand of the major favelas across Rio were ranked “high-income” residents, a significant contrast with 2001 where they only accounted for one percent.

A lot of high income earners wish to remain in their communities and improve their homes, however, most do not have a choice as they have been priced out of the rest of the Rio property market.
Daniel Clark, an Australian who lives in Cantagalo, explains that “the interior of some of the places look much nicer than a lot of the so-called wealthy apartments. I was shocked when I first saw one because we are fed so many negative images of the ‘misery’ of favela life.”

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