摘要:This study is the result of a quantitative investigation that describes the characteristics of communication formed within families in subnormal neighborhoods of the city of Montería. The methodological design started with an intentional sample of 300 families that belong to four subnormal settlements in the city of Montería. The information was obtained through the application of two surveys, one to measure the demographic characteristics of homes and the CFA questionnaire created by Garces (2004) to measure the levels of family communication. From the most important findings of this study, it is highlighted that nuclear families showed better levels of communication and relationship than monoparental and extended ones. However, independently from the type of family, it was found that the mother figure shows better development than the father figure of the emotional and regulating communication with the children. Another aspect to highlight is that four aspects were found to be an obstacle in the functional development of communication and family relationships: parents’ separation, psychological and physical abuse, the economical crisis and the consumption of drugs. Keywords: family, family communication, parental relationships, subnormal settlements, Montería.