The landscape of homelessness policy in the Federal District was fundamentally transformed by the intervention of the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) through its ruling on ADPF 976. By recognizing an “Unconstitutional State of Affairs,” the Court required local governments to implement comprehensive action plans to protect the rights of the homeless population, including prohibitions on forced removals and the seizure of personal belongings. This judicial action shifted the District Policy for the Homeless Population from a discretionary administrative initiative to a mandatory legal obligation.
To bridge the implementation gap, a distinctive governance model was created: a Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) involving the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Federal District and Territories (MPDFT), the National Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (CNMP), and the Government of the Federal District (GDF). By combining judicial pressure with intersectoral coordination, this model seeks to generate synergy among policy formulation, execution, and oversight.
The formulation of the District Policy reflects this purpose by formally recognizing people experiencing homelessness as rights-holders and by organizing actions aimed at ensuring their access to essential public services. Taken together, these developments illustrate that the sustainability of social protection for vulnerable groups in complex democracies depends on maintaining a permanent state of institutional accountability, ensuring that the legal recognition of rights translates into effective government responses.