Margins of Habitability. A Qualitative Study on Housing and Marginalization in México

Oscar A. Martínez-Martínez^*Claudia V. Zamudio-LazarínJimena De Gortari Ludlow

• Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico

In middle-income countries such as Mexico, housing adequacy remains a central challenge, particularly regarding the physical conditions of dwellings and the provision of essential services such as potable water, drainage, and electricity. This study addresses the question: How are the quality of living spaces, access to basic services, and conditions of vulnerability perceived across municipalities with different levels of marginalization? To examine this, we conducted a literature review, developed a sampling strategy based on the Municipal Marginalization Index (IMM), and carried out 235 semi-structured interviews. The data were coded through thematic analysis and interpreted using an analytical framework that integrates material and subjective dimensions of habitability. The analysis focused on physical dwelling conditions (construction materials, structural stability, and service provision) and subjective perceptions of comfort, safety, and vulnerability. The findings show that in highly marginalized areas, households face chronic water scarcity, infrastructural fragility, and exposure to environmental risks, often associating comfort with minimal protection and safety with community support networks. In less marginalized contexts, improved construction conditions and greater access to basic services contribute to greater perceived stability, although concerns regarding water availability and neighborhood security remain. These results indicate that marginalization shapes both material housing conditions and the lived experience of habitability, offering evidence that can guide in-situ upgrading strategies, community-centered service provision, and neighborhood-scale planning in marginalized urban contexts.