Housing policy in Brazil: An advocacy coalition analysis of the national social interest housing system versus minha casa, minha vida program

Abstract

This article analyzes the institutional changes in the housing policy in Brazil from 1992 to 2014, based on the Advocacy Coalition Framework, which provides insights to understand the values and ideas present in the formulation and modification of the National Social Interest Housing System (SNHIS) and Minha Casa, Minha Vida Program (MCMVP). The methods included data from laws, rules and minutes from National Council and Conference of Cities, public hearings, and interviews. Through these documents, we analyzed the Law nº11124/2005, which remained in debate in the National Congress for 13 years before it became law. This law created the SNHIS, established the participatory approach for housing plan formulation, and for the establishment of funds at the three levels of government, which are controlled by popular councils. However, in 2009 the federal government adopted an alternative to SNHIS and created, through a provisional act, the MCMVP. The bill was certified as urgent by the National Congress and approved in less than four months before becoming Law nº11977/2009. The present study suggests a critical understanding of policy-making processes and concludes that the institutional changes made tended to protect the market interests, with little regard for integrated urban planning.