Margins of habitability. A qualitative study on housing and marginalization in México

IntroductionIn middle-income countries such as Mexico, housing adequacy remains a central challenge, particularly in relation to the physical conditions of dwellings and the provision of essential services, including potable water, drainage, and electricity. This study examines how the quality of living spaces, access to basic services, and conditions of vulnerability are perceived across municipalities with different levels of marginalization.MethodsThe study involved a literature review, the development of a sampling strategy based on the Municipal Marginalization Index (IMM), and the conduct of 235 semi-structured interviews. The data were coded using thematic analysis and interpreted through an analytical framework that integrates material and subjective dimensions of habitability. The analysis focused on physical dwelling conditions, such as construction materials, structural stability, and service provision, as well as subjective perceptions of comfort, safety, and vulnerability.ResultsThe findings indicate that in highly marginalized areas, households face chronic water scarcity, infrastructural fragility, and exposure to environmental risks. In these contexts, comfort is often associated with minimal protection, and safety is linked to community support networks. In less marginalized municipalities, improved construction conditions and greater access to basic services contribute to higher perceived stability, although concerns regarding water availability and neighborhood security persist.DiscussionThe results show that marginalization shapes both material housing conditions and the lived experience of habitability. These insights highlight the need for in-situ upgrading strategies, community-centered service provision, and neighborhood-scale planning to improve living conditions in marginalized urban contexts.