Final answer:
Residents of favelas are generally considered poor due to the inadequate living conditions, lack of public services, and socio-economic challenges they face. The settlements often start as improvised shantytowns and can evolve into more established neighborhoods, but poverty prevails due to systemic issues in urban development and infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Residents of favelas in Brazil and similar slums in other parts of South America are generally considered to be poor. This is because these settlements often begin as self-constructed shantytowns that lack official land ownership rights, police protection, and public services. Over time, while some favelas can evolve into more established neighborhoods, the initial conditions and persistent lack of infrastructure contribute to the prevalence of poverty among their residents. The reasoning behind this is tied to the socio-economic challenges faced by the urban poor, including overcrowding, pollution, insufficient public services, and lack of employment opportunities.
Favelas are frequently a result of migration patterns, where individuals move to urban centers in search of work and end up in improvised and underdeveloped areas. The living conditions in these areas can be harsh, and the local governments often struggle to accommodate the rapid expansion of these neighborhoods with necessary public services. Consequently, these areas may become isolated communities, sometimes governed by crime lords in place of official law enforcement, which exacerbates the social and economic difficulties faced by their residents.
The concept of poverty, including subjective poverty, looks different across global contexts. In comparing the different living standards, it can be seen that what constitutes poverty in one country may not match the perceived poverty in another. However, universally, families living in conditions such as those found in favelas and similar settlements across South America are considered poor due to the lack of basic amenities and infrastructure that support a decent quality of life.