Abstract
This paper tells the story of FEGIP, a federation of tenants and “posseiros” working in Goiás state, Brazil and their struggle over the last 17 years to assist tenants and the homeless. Section I serves as introduction and Section II outlines the methodology and scope of the research. Section III provides some basic information on the city of Goiânia, and the situation of tenants within the city. Section IV explains the central role of tenants' movements in creating an alternative means through which low-income families are able to secure housing. It analyzes the specific nature of FEGIP - the Goiânia Federation of Tenants and Posseiros - and former organizations. Section V illustrates these strategies with a number of histories of individual settlements. The final sections consider the achievements and impacts, and some conclusions are drawn following an assessment of their effect on both local and national housing policy.