Urban exclusionary poverty: A qualitative study on Roma people of Çayirbaşi Neighborhood in Sariyer

Stateless Roma people living in different countries around the world face unfavorable living conditions. Poverty and discrimination are their fundamental problems, and although there has been an increase in literature addressing these issues in recent years, there are not enough studies available. This research aims to explore, in a sociological context, the experiences of social exclusion and poverty by focusing on the Çayırbaşı Neighborhood in Sarıyer district of Istanbul, which is a shantytown area inhabited by Roma people. Roma individuals, who experience discrimination in various aspects in the coastal areas of the city, struggle to make a living in precarious conditions due to the decline in the significance of traditional nomadic professions and their low levels of education. This study is based on in-depth interviews and observations conducted with 15 Roma participants living in the shantytown areas of the Çayırbaşı Neighborhood, using qualitative research methods. The findings suggest that Roma individuals have multifaceted experiences of exclusion, and this process of exclusion further exacerbates their existing poverty conditions. Ultimately, poverty and exclusion are seen as both causes and consequences of each other.