synonym of bad

[MarilenaG]

I need a synonym of "bad" in this context:
"Objective: to provide help in changing people’s unsatisfactory conditions; the idea is to involve immediately in research’s processes people in bad situations, so that we can devise possible solutions, planning and realizing them in cooperation with researchers "
(please tell me if you find something wrong in the whole, unfortunately long, sentence)
thank's

[Mister Micawber]

.
It is difficult to understand what kind of situations you are speaking of. Perhaps?--

Objective: to provide help in changing substandard living conditions. The idea is to become involved immediately in the process of research into poor living conditions and devise possible solutions, planning and realizing them in cooperation with researchers.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's