You are here:

Land and Housing

Landlessness and poverty are strongly linked - in many countries, a tiny minority of rich people own vast areas of fertile land, while the rest have no land on which to grow food

Ivanete Nete de Araujo, 37, speaking at a meeting of residents of the Maua Building.

In many cities, more than half the population live in shantytowns or "favelas", without tenancy rights and in life-threatening conditions.

Nete de Araújo was evicted after her husband was made redundant, and found herself living under a motorway bridge with three small children in São Paolo – a city where 50 people are murdered every weekend.

She was saved by our partner APOIO, which helps up to 2,000 families every year to find safe housing. Now, Nete works for APOIO to help others in need. She says: "I see myself as a rope that gets thrown to the bottom of a well. I am there to help people who need me. If they want to, they can hold onto the rope and pull themselves up."

A new life for São Paulo’s poorest families

Over the last 4 years, CAFOD’s Urban Programme in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city has helped over 8,730 poor families escape the poverty trap and find new life and dignity.

CAFOD open house: Saturday 28 January

As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations, CAFOD will be hosting an Open House on Saturday 28 January. We are opening the doors to CAFOD’s central London office, Romero House, to supporters and the public between 10:30am and 1:00pm.

Inheritance tax change could benefit the people and causes you love

On 6 April 2012, changes to the tax laws mean your family could benefit from a reduced rate of inheritance tax if you leave 10 percent or more of your estate to charity.

Orthodox priest, Mekelle, Ethiopia [Annie Bungeroth]

What's so 'Catholic' about CAFOD?

CAFOD’s vision, mission and values draw directly from Catholic Social Teaching (CST), Scripture and the tradition of the Church. CST is at the heart of what we do and who we are.

Fighting for the Right to Land in Colombia

In June Mgr Héctor Fabio Henao, director of CAFOD’s Colombia partner SNPS, came to the UK with two Colombian community leaders. Mélida Guevara and Jesús Alberto Castilla, whose communities have been torn apart by 50 years of internal conflict, visited the UK to tell the government and CAFOD supporters what they can do to help.

Published on 05/11/2009, last updated on 15/08/2011

What is RSS?

Tell a friend Print this page Back to top

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Land and Housing