The Maranhão Justice has ordered the municipality of São Luís to undertake construction work and guarantee safe housing for families in the Coroadinho area, which is under threat of landslides and flooding. This ruling came after a civil action was filed by the Housing and Land Defense Center of the Maranhão Public Defender's Office, highlighting the urgent need for intervention in these vulnerable communities.

The court's decision mandates emergency works, the maintenance of housing assistance, and a permanent relocation plan for the affected residents. Communities like Vila Natal, Vila Jatobá, Cidade de Deus, and others were identified as particularly at risk based on technical reports, civil defense assessments, and psychosocial studies that document the imminent danger faced by local families. In response to the rising threats of climate change and urban expansion, this ruling represents a proactive step towards addressing the housing crisis in São Luís.

The public defender, Erick Railson Azevedo Reis, played a crucial role in bringing attention to this issue, utilizing evidence from various reports to underpin the urgency of safe housing for these communities. This court ruling may serve as a precedent for similar cases across Brazil, potentially influencing housing policy and government action to better protect vulnerable populations living in precarious conditions, thereby promoting social justice and equity in urban planning.