Second, unsafe, unreliable housing negatively impacts poor people physically and economically. It is estimated that there is a housing deficit of approximately seven million units in Brazil, and 20 percent of its total population lives in inadequate housing. Favelas, or slums, have widely become the “solution” to the housing crisis, but there are several problems with this system. First, favelas are technically considered illegal, but a lack of city planning during a period of rapid urbanization left people without other options. Second, favelas often lack basic infrastructure, such as sewage systems, potable water, and waste management. This often leads to higher levels of disease, and little to no government intervention results in high crime levels as well. Third, even if someone is relatively safe and healthy, living in such stressful environments negatively impacts their mental health and therefore overall productivity.

Next, access to quality education, which is necessary for social advancement, is difficult to guarantee. In Brazil, public education is free until college. However, schools are funded by municipal and state budgets, so poorer states have worse schools. Therefore, middle and upper class families tend to send their children to private schools which have more resources and better teachers. In comparison, public schools tend to lack resources such as books, are often closed to due nearby violence, and their teachers tend to have minimal hands-on training before entering the classroom. Due to these differences, the OECD estimated that children in Brazilian public schools are almost three years behind their peers as of age 15. Furthermore, even if children are enrolled in schools, those from large, poor families often begin work around age ten—despite child labor laws outlawing the practice until age 16—and thus are largely unable to benefit from them.

Finally, in order for people to benefit from government programs that are designed to mitigate any of the above challenges, they must have proper documentation to prove they are citizens. However, poor people, particularly in rural areas, are often born outside of hospitals and are therefore never counted by the government. Additionally, for those in urban areas who live in favelas, their residences aren’t legally recognized, so they don’t have legal recourse for issues nor an address to list on other paperwork. Finally, if people have never formally entered the workforce, and thus do not have a work card or other official documentation, they are often disenfranchised and discriminated against in the judicial system.

Inevitably, poverty will affect people from different backgrounds and identities differently. However, there are still several factors that cause similar problems for those living under the poverty line. Access to basic resources including sufficient and nutritional food, stable housing, quality education, and proper documentation can make a world of difference, yet unfortunately, too many Brazilians do not have the access they deserve.