São Paulo, 12/9/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday minister of Cities, Olívio Dutra, announced the completion of 200 homes in the municipality of Guarulhos, in the Greater São Paulo metropolitan region. The homes will be handed over to their new owners on Saturday during celebrations of the 443rd anniversary of the city.

Dutra pointed out that Brazil has a housing deficit of 6 million units. He said the government intends to reduce the problem with funding from the private sector and all levels of public administration. "If we can invest R$13 billion annually over a 20-year period, we can give every Brazilian a home worthy of the name, that has basic sanitation," said the minister.