O reconhecimento de logradouros e o endereçamento postal como elementos da política de urbanização das favelas

Abstract

The absence of postal codes in informal settlements significantly affects residents’ living conditions, undermining not only economic development but also the effectiveness of public policies in health, education, and urban planning, as well as the exercise of citizenship. The study shows that postal addressing is a crucial component of the right to adequate housing, serving as an instrument of belonging and cultural identity. Comprehensive land regularization should include not only property titling but also urban planning measures and the provision of basic infrastructure, with particular emphasis on the recognition and naming of streets. Urban upgrading programs in Rio de Janeiro, such as Favela-Bairro and Morar Carioca, reveal a neglect of postal addressing, reflected in the absence of resources, monitoring, and evaluation of outcomes. Recent initiatives, such as the federal program “Postal Code for All,” demonstrate the feasibility of granting postal codes regardless of formal urban regularization, acting as a catalyst for subsequent public policies. To consolidate such initiatives, institutional reorganization is needed, with greater financial support from the federal government and stronger coordination between the national postal service and municipalities. Moreover, the increasing participation of private companies in public functions calls for state oversight to ensure that collective interests prevail over economic objectives. This research contributes to the planning of urban development policies, highlighting the importance of postal addressing as an instrument of social integration, rights enforcement, and citizenship promotion, while suggesting new pathways for joint action between the State and private actors in the regularization of informal territories.