São Paulo social hotel closure threatens 128 residents

The Public Defender's Office of São Paulo has requested judicial clarification from Mayor Ricardo Nunes' administration regarding the closure of a social hotel on Rua Santa Ifigênia. The facility, known as Hotel Curitiba 76, provides shelter for 128 vulnerable individuals, but its operating license was denied on July 24.

This move follows a previous attempt by the city to close the hotel in March, which was blocked by an injunction from the 14th Treasury Court of the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJSP). That injunction prohibited the reduction of vacancies or the discontinuation of services at both Hotel Curitiba and the São Leopoldo Shelter.

The municipal government maintains that the intention to demobilize the site is not to reduce social assistance, but to “ensure the safety and dignity of the users,” citing reports of criminal activity and drug trafficking in the surrounding area. The Public Defender's Office is investigating whether the current closure order violates the existing court injunction.