Between Streets and Networks: Care Practices and Resistance in Contexts of Social Vulnerability

This article examines care practices and forms of resistance that emerge in socially vulnerable contexts, particularly within urban peripheries and informal settlements where structural exclusion shapes health needs and access to services. Drawing on literature and empirical evidence, the essay highlights how informal care networks, community health strategies, and grassroots collectives create alternative pathways of support beyond formal health systems. These practices are understood not only as survival mechanisms but also as expressions of collective agency that challenge institutional neglect and health inequities. The analysis foregrounds the role of social ties, solidarity networks, and community-based interventions in mitigating the impacts of poverty, violence, and structural discrimination. The article concludes that recognition and strengthening of these “street to network” practices are essential for equitable and culturally resonant public health strategies, requiring policies that move beyond biomedical models toward integrated, participatory, and context-responsive care.