Adaptation and Solidarity Policies of Undocumented Individuals in the Face of Poverty in Iran

One of the critical outcomes of rapid urban growth is the increasing number of poor individuals living in informal settlements on city outskirts, deprived of basic services. Inhabitants of these areas, often lacking professional skills and excluded from the formal economy, are particularly vulnerable to unemployment and poverty. A significant group among these are undocumented individuals residing in Mashhad’s informal settlements, including children without legal identity documents. As a result, they are excluded from social services and welfare benefits that other citizens enjoy, with the government's policies exacerbating their marginalization.

This study investigates the adaptation and solidarity policies used by undocumented individuals living in informal settlements in Mashhad regarding access to education, healthcare, housing, employment, and social security. It also explores the poverty and deprivation these individuals face and how they navigate these challenges. Using grounded theory as a qualitative methodology, the study examines individuals residing in these settlements for over five years through semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample.

The findings reveal that the deprivation experienced by undocumented individuals stems from their "limited ability to benefit from opportunities that society provides to individuals with identification documents." These limitations manifest in restricted access to education, formal marriage, employment, and welfare services. In response, undocumented individuals have formed quasi-communal societies characterized by extended family structures, mutual aid, respect for elders, strong in-group cohesion, and high levels of social trust. These communal systems enable them to develop policies for adapting to their difficult living conditions and improving or sustaining their welfare.