Surviving the City's Margin: Livelihood Strategies of the Urban Poor in Tallo, Makassar

Abstract

Urban poverty in slum areas represents one of the most pressing social challenges facing major cities in Indonesia. Tallo District, Makassar City, is characterized by a population density of 13,930 people per square kilometer, a predominance of the informal economic sector, and limited access to basic services. This study examines the livelihood strategies employed by the poor in this area as a means of surviving amid economic pressures and structural urban inequality. A qualitative approach with a case study design was adopted. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observation, and documentary research involving five informants selected purposively on the basis of economic vulnerability and length of residence in the Tallo slum area. Data analysis followed a thematic analysis model interpreted through two theoretical frameworks: the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (Chambers & Conway) and quiet encroachment of the ordinary (Bayat). The findings reveal four complementary livelihood strategies: engagement in the informal economic sector, utilization of social networks grounded in community solidarity, women's dual roles as household managers and income earners, and appropriation of government social assistance programs whose distribution remains uneven. These four strategies form an integrated and mutually sustaining livelihood system. The findings affirm that the urban poor in Tallo are adaptive and creative social actors, not a passive group. This study contributes to understanding urban poverty dynamics in Eastern Indonesia and offers recommendations for local governments to design poverty alleviation programs that are more inclusive and responsive to the real needs of communities