Urban Poor Associates (UPA)

In 1993, this partner began working alongside other organizations involved in defending the rights of Manila’s most vulnerable populations, including women, children and families. From a legal standpoint, UPA provides assistance to local populations on infrastructure projects that violate their right to housing. The organization also offers training and documentation on demolition projects that affect vulnerable communities.

Recently, Urban Poor Associates helped 1,700 families gain access to the municipal sewer system in the city of Quezon. It also trained local leaders from the Baseco community to help facilitate discussions with the country’s President and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a major funding partner for urban infrastructure development in Manila. The mediation process resulted in improvements to the shantytowns, rather than the residents’ outright eviction: the ADB approved the establishment of a real estate sector for 6,500 families.

Urban Poor Associates has also stepped in to assist 32 other communities where 3,064 families were facing eviction or had had their homes demolished. In many cases, demolition was stopped and UPA managed to get concerned parties to find solutions focused on long-term development. UPA has been our partner since 1996.