‘In-betweenness’: migrants experience accessing rental housing in the innerburbs neighborhoods of Santiago, Chile

Abstract

Migration movements have been happening worldwide, and Latin America has also been part of this global phenomenon, particularly through increased intraregional migration. Chile has emerged as an economically appealing destination, leading to a rapid rise in migration, posing substantial challenges for Chilean cities. The central question guiding this paper is: How is the migrant experience of accessing housing through the informal rental market in the innerburbs areas of Santiago, Chile? This research considers a descriptive analysis of migrants in Santiago, followed by the analysis of the experience of migrants accessing the informal rental market in three districts of Santiago (Conchalí, Cerro Navia, and El Bosque) looking at (1) the available housing supply in online advertisements and (2) analyzing interviews with migrants and key actors. This article argues that migrants residing in innerburbs areas experience a state of ‘in-betweenness’ under a ‘gray’ housing status. This notion considers the legal and spatial aspects of being in an intermediate position.