Barrio - Barrio Life

Barrio Life

Life in the barrios of Caracas, Venezuela, is a struggle for most and living conditions are often precarious. The main disadvantage of living in the barrios in that it presents very cramped living condition with only the basic facilities available. People living in these areas lack running water, proper sanitation and face high risks of crime. Lack of schooling and a full educational offering are also problems. Garbage disposal is inappropriate presenting their own health risks. People built their own poor structure houses from provided government grants.

Many Hispanics refused to leave the barrio because it offered them the comfort of being back in their home country, this caused the barrios to be looked upon unfavorably because of the fact that it was very possible that the neighborhoods would bring down the property value of many other surrounding areas. This effect was known as “white flight”, which was when the white population would leave their current housing situation due to the influx of a certain ethnicity moving into the neighborhood. The Hispanics have no reason to leave however due to the fact that markets and food distributors that are in the area also provide the residents of the barrio with the foods that they could acquire while living in their home country. Immigrants will lose out on learning English due to the fact that everyone in the barrio is able to speak the language of their home country.