Difference between revisions of "Allegados (Chile)"

The term ''allegado'' (literally: ‘close,’ ‘near’ or ‘related’) is used in Chile to refer to poor families or individuals who live in the homes of their relatives. ''Allegados'' usually do not pay rent, but make small contributions toward household utilities and other expenses. Seventy-five per cent of ''allegados'' affirm that they live in this way for economic reasons (MIDEPLAN 2013 <ref>MIDEPLAN (Ministry of Social Development, Chile). 2013. Encuesta CASEN 2013. Vivienda sintesis de resultados http://www.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/resultados-encuesta-casen-2013/</ref>). Typically, they occupy a single room in their relatives’ house, though they may also live in a larger part of the house. In this respect, ''allegados'' differ from South Africa’s backyarders, who build a shack in the backyard of a shared plot (Gilbert and Crankshaw 1999<ref>Gilbert, A. and Crankshaw, O. 1999. ‘Comparing South African and Latin American Experience: Migration and Housing.’ Urban Studies, 36(13) 2375</ref>).

The term ''allegado'' (literally: ‘close,’ ‘near’ or ‘related’) is used in Chile to refer to poor families or individuals who live in the homes of their relatives. ''Allegados'' usually do not pay rent, but make small contributions toward household utilities and other expenses. Seventy-five per cent of ''allegados'' affirm that they live in this way for economic reasons (MIDEPLAN 2013 <ref>MIDEPLAN (Ministry of Social Development, Chile). 2013. Encuesta CASEN 2013. Vivienda sintesis de resultados http://www.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/resultados-encuesta-casen-2013/</ref>). Typically, they occupy a single room in their relatives’ house, though they may also live in a larger part of the house. In this respect, ''allegados'' differ from South Africa’s backyarders, who build a shack in the backyard of a shared plot (Gilbert and Crankshaw 1999<ref>Gilbert, A. and Crankshaw, O. 1999. ‘Comparing South African and Latin American Experience: Migration and Housing.’ Urban Studies, 36(13) 2375</ref>).

In countries where the poor cannot access housing through alternative practices such as informal settlements, renting or sharing existing housing stock becomes the only way to access accommodation. This is particularly the case in big cities where land is scarce (UN-Habitat 2003<ref>UN ̶̶Habitat. 2003. Rental Housing: An essential option for the urban poor in developing countries. Nairobi, Kenya. http://unhabitat.org/ and http://www.urbancentre.utoronto.ca/pdfs/elibrary/UNHabitatRentalHousing.pdf</ref>). Gilbert (2014<ref>Gilbert, A. 2014. ‘Arrendatarios y autoconstrucción: selección y restricciones en el mercado de viviendas en los países de menores ingresos,’ Revista De Estudios Urbano Regionales, 13: 39-40</ref>) points out that, contrary to general assumptions, most informal dwellers in developing countries do not live in their own accommodation (that is, in informal settlements) but rather rent or share accommodation. Relatively little attention has been paid to this phenomenon because of its ‘invisibility.’ It is only in the recent years that the authorities, academics and policy-makers have begun to recognise the prevalence of this practice.

In countries where the poor cannot access housing through alternative practices such as informal settlements, renting or sharing existing housing stock becomes the only way to access accommodation. This is particularly the case in big cities where land is scarce (UN-Habitat 2003<ref>UN ̶̶Habitat. 2003. Rental Housing: An essential option for the urban poor in developing countries. Nairobi, Kenya. http://unhabitat.org/ and http://www.urbancentre.utoronto.ca/pdfs/elibrary/UNHabitatRentalHousing.pdf</ref>). Gilbert (2014<ref>Gilbert, A. 2014. ‘Arrendatarios y autoconstrucción: selección y restricciones en el mercado de viviendas en los países de menores ingresos,’ Revista De Estudios Urbano Regionales, 13: 39-40</ref>) points out that, contrary to general assumptions, most informal dwellers in developing countries do not live in their own accommodation (that is, in informal settlements) but rather rent or share accommodation. Relatively little attention has been paid to this phenomenon because of its ‘invisibility.’ It is only in the recent years that the authorities, academics and policy-makers have begun to recognise the prevalence of this practice.

Many ''allegados'' see this as a semi-permanent arrangement (Arriagada 1999<ref>Arrigada, C., Icaza, A. M. and Rodríguez, A. 1999. ‘Allegamiento, pobreza y políticas públicas. Santiago: Temas Sociales.’ Boletín del Programa de Pobreza y Políticas Sociales No.25 SUR Corporación de Estudios Sociales y Educación</ref>) with as many as 65 per cent stating that they are not looking for another solution in the near future (MIDEPLAN 2013<ref>MIDEPLAN (Ministry of Social Development, Chile). 2013. Encuesta CASEN 2013. Vivienda sintesis de resultados http://www.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/resultados-encuesta-casen-2013/</ref>). However, it is important to note that often both ''allegados'' and their host-families find the arrangement far from ideal. This apparent contradiction reflects the complexity of the situation. The cramped nature of the space occupied by the family members creates potential sources of tension such as the threat of sexual assault or the discomfort of limited space in which to carry out daily activities. As a result, the practice can carry high psychological costs. Where possible, therefore, people who have lived as ''allegados'' (usually when they were starting a family of their own) try to move out of the family home to unoccupied land. However, most of them stay as ''allegados''.  

Many ''allegados'' see this as a semi-permanent arrangement (Arriagada 1999<ref>Arrigada, C., Icaza, A. M. and Rodríguez, A. 1999. ‘Allegamiento, pobreza y políticas públicas. Santiago: Temas Sociales.’ Boletín del Programa de Pobreza y Políticas Sociales No.25 SUR Corporación de Estudios Sociales y Educación</ref>) with as many as 65 per cent stating that they are not looking for another solution in the near future (MIDEPLAN 2013<ref>MIDEPLAN (Ministry of Social Development, Chile). 2013. Encuesta CASEN 2013. Vivienda sintesis de resultados http://www.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/resultados-encuesta-casen-2013/</ref>). However, it is important to note that often both ''allegados'' and their host-families find the arrangement far from ideal. This apparent contradiction reflects the complexity of the situation. The cramped nature of the space occupied by the family members creates potential sources of tension such as the threat of sexual assault or the discomfort of limited space in which to carry out daily activities. As a result, the practice can carry high psychological costs. Where possible, therefore, people who have lived as ''allegados'' (usually when they were starting a family of their own) try to move out of the family home to unoccupied land. However, most of them stay as ''allegados''.  

Scholars and ''allegados'' movements alike recognise the practice of ''allegados'' not only as a response to the shortage of housing but also as a manifestation of poverty more generally. As a coping strategy, sharing accommodation helps people to deal not only with homelessness but also with other vulnerabilities such as limited childcare, access to jobs in the city or alternatives for domestic abuse victims. In this sense, a better examination of ''allegados'' introduces new elements enabling us to better understand the relationship between housing and vulnerability. ''Allegados'' movements are accordingly campaigning to be recognised as a symbol of inequality and to highlight the social and political significance of the housing deficit and of poverty more widely.

Scholars and ''allegados'' movements alike recognise the practice of ''allegados'' not only as a response to the shortage of housing but also as a manifestation of poverty more generally. As a coping strategy, sharing accommodation helps people to deal not only with homelessness but also with other vulnerabilities such as limited childcare, access to jobs in the city or alternatives for domestic abuse victims. In this sense, a better examination of ''allegados'' introduces new elements enabling us to better understand the relationship between housing and vulnerability. ''Allegados'' movements are accordingly campaigning to be recognised as a symbol of inequality and to highlight the social and political significance of the housing deficit and of poverty more widely.