The exposition of misery in the public spaces, which is a consequence of the social inequalities in the capitalist world, is an urban phenomenon that is increasing in the big Brazilian cities. The activities accomplished by the groups that get the resources for their survival in the streets of the modern cities became an exemplary demonstration on how the street has became a space of economic, political and cultural borders. I intend to focus, in this article, inside this human group that gets larger in the urban space, the street dweller, the so called street mad. In a singular way, this strange and eccentric figure, who is a part of the urban setting and has generally been isolated from the other street people, also makes a place dwelling and survival out of the urban space. This is a work of approaching , research and attendance to these people, who are out of the official census and the public policy of assistance that has been carried on since 1996 by mental health professionals, together with other government sectors and non-government organizations, in Belo Horizonte-MG.
Public spaces; Poor population; Street mad