Urban Poor in the Informal Sector of Gaziantep/Turkey

Abstract

The poor or people who were close to the poverty line, built 'slums' to meet their shelter needs- the basic needs of humanity. They turned to the informal, in other words, shadow sectors, due to their livelihood concerns and lack of employment. Reasons such as rapid population growth, intensive migration, inter-regional development difference, and high unemployment rates bring about urban poverty and push people to the informal sector. The informal sector hides unemployment rather than preventing it. In this article, the informal sector and the problem of urban poverty in Gaziantep Turkey are focussed. A questionnaire was conducted among the targetted population to understand the social and spatial dimensions of the problem. Upon observations, in-depth interviews and surveys as part of the studies, an urban transformation project was proposed in Güneş neighbourhood -where urban poverty and informal sector are most significant. With this project, it will be possible to ensure that the urban poor, who were formerly excluded from social and urban life, will live in better quality housing areas and have access to social-cultural activities. In this context, the identification of the problems faced by people working in the informal sector had provided solutions and policies for the holistic development of the neighbourhood.