Abstract

Aims :

This study examines the social, economic, and spatial dimensions of marginalization in the city of Mashhad and explicates its relationship with the concept of urban development. The research is motivated by the expansion of spatial poverty and rising inequalities in this metropolis, which has been accompanied by the rapid growth of informal settlements.

Methods:

The methodology employed is a descriptive-analytical approach with a qualitative phenomenological orientation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with fourteen residents of marginalized areas and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method.

Findings:

The findings reveal that residents face a combination of structural and psychological challenges, including feelings of insecurity, chronic anxiety, social exclusion, worthlessness, fatigue, and hopelessness, while simultaneously displaying an inner resilience and latent hope for change. The key factors perpetuating spatial poverty include economic inequality, weak urban policymaking, concentration of services in the central urban core, and lack of social participation.

Conclusion:

The results indicate that sustainable management of marginalized areas is unattainable without an integrated approach to housing, employment, education, and social empowerment. Suggested strategies include neighborhood-based development, participatory planning, equitable redistribution of urban resources, and strengthening residents’ sense of belonging. The study emphasizes that a transition from spatial poverty to urban equity requires redefining spatial justice and ensuring genuine citizen participation in urban decision-making processes.