Homeless, the world of work and the specialized reference centers for population in street situation (centro pop): Perspectives on actions for productive inclusion1

Abstract

Introduction: Unemployment is one of the factors that contribute to homelessness and the actions for productive inclusion is recommended as strategic to increase autonomy, social participation and overcoming this situation. Objective: To identify productive inclusion actions carried out by Centros Pop (Centers of Specialized Reference for Population in Street Situation) of the state of São Paulo and the view of the coordinators of this equipment about this dimension of the work with the homeless people. Method: This is qualitative research, carried out through the application of a protocol of personal and professional identification and identification of equipment and a semi-structured questionnaire with coordinators of 13 Centros Pop in the state of São Paulo. The data were analyzed descriptively and for the open questions, the thematic analysis was used. Results: The productive inclusion was associated with the overcoming of the street situation to access to the labor market and income and to social belonging. The role of the Centro Pop in the provision of information, referrals, and intersectoral articulation, especially for professional qualification and training, as well as challenges such as prejudice, low qualification and schooling, and the use of psychoactive substances were highlighted. Conclusion: Collective and intersectoral actions are needed that recognize access to work as a right, in line with the desires, needs, and singularities of street people, where productive inclusion, through the articulation between different policies and services, can contribute to the vulnerability reduction and creation of autonomy. In this scenario, Centros Pop can play an important role