State response to homelessness in South Africa

A multi-agency housing focused intervention approach considered

Bibliographic Data

ID21540940
AuthorsEmeka E Obioha (0000-0002-5554-6030, Department of Social Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume39
Issue6
Pages990-1006
Publication date2022-11-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopment Southern Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0376-835X • E-ISSN: 1470-3637
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0376835x.2022.2103519
OpenAlexW4288096638
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited19

This paper articulates state response to homelessness through multi-agency intervention in South Africa. While it argues strongly on relativity of homelessness, it however agrees with previous authors on common constituents of the concept. Based on secondary sources this paper delves into what constitutes homelessness and why there has been homelessness in the country, due to one or a combination of structural and individual related drivers. It further explores the state’s use of a multi-agency housing focused approach that integrates appropriate legislations, social services interventions and public works, where over 3.3 million houses have been delivered in the country. While in-depth review of available data indicated significant increase in housing provision, the strategy is confronted with human, material, and rising need concerns. Importantly, there is no certainty yet on the extent to which the ‘street homeless’ and marginalised groups of the poor are served equally to other categories of the homeless

Certainty · Economic growth · Economics · Housing First · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public housing · Social science · Sociology · Homelessness and Social Issues · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology · Urban and Rural Development Challenges

Tools

Open DOI