City Hall and Federal Government deliver housing units from the Morar Carioca do Aço program in Santa Cruz.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated on Friday (March 5th) in the handover of keys to 64 families who benefited from the new apartments in the Aço Community, in Santa Cruz, West Zone. With another stage completed of the Morar Carioca do Aço program, the number of families benefiting from the housing project totaled 400.

“We are in the Aço Community, more specifically in this place called Conjunto Vagão. Because in the 60s, we had one of those big floods that happened in Rio de Janeiro, and people were transferred here, about 800 families, with the promise of receiving their own homes soon after. It was during the 1966 floods, so we're talking about 60 years ago. But people were literally living in train cars without proper conditions. In a partnership between the City Hall and the Federal Government, as soon as President Lula took office, I already had the project ready, and I asked him for funding. The Federal Government released the funding. And in addition to these apartments, we are renovating the entire surrounding community, carrying out urbanization and bringing dignity. It is a joy to be able to deliver this house to you,” said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

The event was for the families who will occupy units in blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Quadra O and will finish occupying the new properties by the end of next week. With this new phase, the Morar Carioca do Aço project maintains a continuous pace of deliveries, and currently, 336 families already live in the housing complex, distributed between blocks F and G and blocks 5, 6, and 7 of Quadra O.

 

The units follow the standard of the city's housing program, with approximately 50 square meters, comprising a living room, two bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony, and service area. The ground-floor apartments are adapted for people with disabilities or reduced mobility, ensuring accessibility. And all are delivered furnished.

 

"My visit here today is to witness the realization of these people's dreams. Those who were born into normal conditions in a house with a shower, running water, and food, have no idea what a house means to a person. So, I want to congratulate the families, and I hope you make good use of it," President Lula emphasized.

 

Visit to resident highlights results of Morar Carioca do Aço

 

During the visit, Mayor Eduardo Paes and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also visited one of the first beneficiaries of the project. They were in apartment 201 of block 3, in Quadra G, where 45-year-old Mariza Batista da Silva lives with her partner, Juçã.

 

A beneficiary of the Bolsa Família program and mother of seven children, Mariza experienced firsthand different stages of the transformation promoted by the Morar Carioca do Aço project. In June 2024, when Mayor Eduardo Paes and President Lula were in the community for the delivery of the first housing units, they visited the resident in her former home.

 

A year later, on June 30, 2025, Mariza received the keys to her new apartment and moved into the new housing complex. The move marked the fulfillment of a dream and the beginning of a new phase for the family. Returning to the community, Mayor Eduardo Paes and President Lula visited Mariza again, this time at her new home. During the meeting, they spoke with her about the family's new routine.

 

"It's wonderful to have my own apartment. Now I have the privilege of having a shower, of having a bed. The privilege of being happy. Now, I'm working at the City Hall. And I'm going to study through EJA (Youth and Adult Education) so that, in the future, I can become a social worker. The most important thing now is that we don't get rained on, and I know that my children's future will be good," concluded Mariza.

 

In early 2026, Mariza got a job as a lunch lady at the Maria Helena Papera Municipal Daycare Center, where she began contributing to the development of children in her own community. She also resumed her studies and enrolled in the Youth and Adult Education program (EJA) at the Eduardo Rabelo Municipal School. The resident intends to complete her schooling and, in the future, pursue a higher education degree.

 

Morar Carioca do Aço expands infrastructure and quality of life in the community.

 

The Morar Carioca do Aço project is being carried out by the Municipal Urbanization Company (Rio-Urbe), linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Infrastructure, and foresees the requalification of more than 195 square meters of public area, with interventions in mobility, sanitation and community spaces.

 

Urbanization works continue to be concentrated on Rua São Gomário, Rua São Corentino, and 13 other internal streets within the community. To date, 13,2 square meters of paving have been completed, improving traffic flow and safety for residents and vehicles.

 

In the underground infrastructure, 5,7 meters of drainage network have already been installed, expanding the capacity for rainwater runoff, in addition to 5,1 meters of sewage network, strengthening the collection system and contributing to the improvement of sanitary conditions in the community.

 

The water supply is being expanded, with 4,7 meters of pipeline installed, ensuring greater regularity of supply for families. The reservoir, with a capacity of 3,5 million liters, is already in operation.

 

In addition to housing and infrastructure improvements, the community gained a new plaza in September 2025, featuring a skate park, bike path, two multi-sports courts, a children's playground, bicycle racks, a picnic area, a Senior Citizens' Fitness Center, and exercise equipment. The space also received 200 trees and over 4,8 square meters of grass.

 

Category:

• City
• Infrastructure
• News
• Rio-Urbe

March 6th, 2026

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