Portraits of the homeless in Rio
A Rio government report from 2013 stated that 5,500 people live on the streets in Rio, not including those who live in shelters or lack stable housing. Close to 40 percent of the street dwellers in the study were found to lack identification, limiting their access to public services. Getty photographer Mario Tama captured day-to-day life of these people in a series of photographs.
- Cintia da Silva Lopes, who is homeless, poses in a park where other homeless gather in the West Zone on March 24, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Couple Igor Batista and Vanessa de Souza lie together in a park where they currently live in the West Zone on March 24, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- People living in park cook their dinner with a small fire in the Centro neighborhood on March 29, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Joao da Silva, who has diabetes and is homeless, poses while sitting in the Centro neighborhood on March 30, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Vanderlei Correia, who is homeless, puts on his shirt while sitting in the Centro neighborhood on March 23, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Correia said he lost his job as a bus cashier five years ago.
- Robson Mattias, whose family raised him on the streets, poses while sitting in the Centro neighborhood on March 30, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- People living in park cook their dinner with a small fire in the Centro neighborhood on March 29, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Thiago, who is homeless, poses while sitting in the Centro neighborhood on March 23, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Couple Eduardo and Michelle pose while lying together on the sidewalk in the Centro neighborhood on March 23, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Michelle said she has lived in the streets since she was 7 years old.
- Michelle poses in the Centro neighborhood on March 26, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Michelle said she has lived in the streets since she was 7 years old.
- Luanda Goncalves (L) sleeps in the Centro neighborhood on March 24, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Vanessa Priscilla (L) poses with Ezekial in a park where homeless live in the West Zone on March 27, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They both live in the park.
- Raissa Gomes, who is homeless, poses in a park where other homeless gather in the West Zone on March 27, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Maria Das Gracas, who has lives on the street for three years, poses in the Centro neighborhood on March 26, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Michelle said she has lived in the streets since she was 7 years old.
- Vanessa Priscilla is kissed by Thompson while posing in a park where homeless live in the West Zone on March 27, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They both live in the park.
- People living in park cook their dinner with a small fire in the Centro neighborhood on March 29, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Janaina Moura poses with her son Gabriel while sitting on the sidewalk in the Centro neighborhood on March 26, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Couple Raissa Gomes (L) and Rafael Carneiro, who are homeless, pose in the park where they live in the West Zone on March 27, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- A couple resting on the sidewalk together in the Centro neighborhood on March 23, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Wellington Vinicius da Silva, 19, who is homeless, poses in a park where other homeless gather in the West Zone on March 27, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He says he has lived on the street for one year.
- Joao da Silva, who has diabetes and is homeless, poses while sitting in the Centro neighborhood on March 30, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.