Survival strategies in inner-city neighborhoods: the case of Colombian and Peruvian migrants in Brussels, Belgium

ABSTRACT The rise of poverty in Western European countries due to different processes such as the dualization and polarization of the labour market has led to different mechanisms of social exclusion. In this paper, low-income Colombian and Peruvian migrants in Brussels, Belgium) are the subject of study. This article highlights the different survival strategies employed by these households in different economic settings. Their survival strategies are analyzed in two municipalities – with different concentrations of Latin Americans – both located in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. These urban settings offer different opportunities for social integration and community development, primarily related to the neighborhood resources.