Homelessness in South Africa

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Homelessness in South Africa is a social problem interconnected with social ills. This problem has permeated all levels of the country. Answering the questions below can help us get to the root cause of this matter hence coming up with the best solutions. In this article, you'll learn everything there is to know about homelessness in this region.

Why people are homeless in South Africa

Apartheid policy

Apartheid rule in South Africa has greatly contributed to the issue of homelessness in the country. Apartheid mechanism forced the removal of people from their original homes, demolished slums, denied citizens documentation, and supported racial classification. Blacks were the disadvantaged members of the community. They were removed from their homelands; they were then destroyed. The apartheid government took track of land to establish a whites-only settlement, mines, and farmland. Many black people became homeless.

Lack of proper documentation

Proper identification documentation is important in South Africa. During the apartheid period, blacks were denied important documentation. Some people claim to be South Africans yet they have no documents to back up their claims. The lack of such documents leaves them out of citizen benefits.

Migration

Migration is a potent factor in South Africa. Both internal and external migration in the country resulted in homelessness. People migrate because of desperate reasons; one of them being economic reasons. They move from economically disadvantaged areas to economically advantaged areas in the country; like Western Cape.  Other people immigrate to South Africa which stretches resources in the city even more. Some end up being homeless.

Unemployment and low wages.

These are major issues in the country. According to estimates, the employment rate in South Africa is at 25%. The majority are the youth, blacks, and women in the country. Some people are uneducated, hence, they cannot acquire a skilled job that can earn them a good income. There is a huge problem with unemployment for the homeless. The employed people suffer from low wages; they are not able to live decent lives. Therefore they lack the economic capacity to respond to life demands hence becoming homeless.

Inequality and cultural rights

South Africa does not equally accommodate all people in the country irrespective of gender, age, and race. Inequality which was supported during the apartheid period still affects citizens in the county. Mentally challenged individuals are excluded from government housing. In some communities, women and widows have no rights to inheritance.

Loss of parents

In most families, parents are the breadwinners. It could be one or both of them. Unfortunately, some kids lose their parents while still young; they end up being single parents or orphans. They cannot support themselves hence they are vulnerable to homelessness.

Home desertion

Some people are homeless simply because they left their homes willingly. It could be because of personal or social reasons such as abuse or domestic violence at home. Some of them find street life attractive. In South Africa, over 1200 homeless people flee home because of such reasons.

The parts of South Africa that have the greatest problem with homelessness

Currently, there is no official data concerning homelessness in the country. There is no national census conducted for homeless people. The lack of official data has made researchers and other people rely on individual estimates of homelessness. It is hard to come up with accurate data on homeless people because some of them live in places not meant for human abode such as under bridges.

Some homeless people don’t have a permanent primary residence; they keep moving from one area to another. In 2015, a recent estimate carried out by the Human Science Resource Centre, stated that there are 200,000 homeless people. The results are not reliable because they only focused on homeless people living on the streets. Those who sleep in night shelters and temporary accommodation were excluded.

The number of homeless people in urban areas is much higher than in rural areas. The Cape Metro Council Street Field Worker Project (CASP) states that Cape town has more homeless adults than street children. Approximately 900 homeless people live in Cape Town.

What South Africa is doing to help the currently homeless

South Africa is doing the following to help the homeless:

Provision of temporary shelters

South Africa has welfare programs such as The Haven Night Shelter Welfare Organization that provides temporary homes for homeless people in the country. The organization works hard to ensure that no one sleeps on the streets.

Provision of free medical care

Homeless people in Johannesburg get free medical care from Trinity health services. Here they are treated for severe conditions twice a month.

What the government is doing to prevent future homelessness in South Africa

South Africa has one of the most generous governments in the world. The government is taking giant strides to help the homeless. They include:

Issue of important documentation

The post-apartheid government began issuing identity cards to deserving citizens who were denied during the apartheid rule. They ensured all citizens are documented to enjoy citizen benefits. Consequently, Injustice and inequality were also addressed.

Provision of shelter homes

The Department of Social Development (DSD) in South Africa, funds Non-Governmental Organizations that work towards changing the lives of homeless people. DSD provides homeless people with shelters, especially during winter. It also empowers and unites homeless people.

Provision of affordable housing

The government establishes bodies such as housing entities that provide affordable housing to poor people in the country. This is achieved through grants, subsidies, and other financial assistance. Support programs work hand in hand with these entities to ensure the project is fair and transparent.

Provision of housing opportunities.

‘Housing adequacy and delivery challenge’ in South Africa is a program meant to provide social protection to homeless people. The government with the help of Human Settlement has provided homeless people with housing opportunities by building more houses. This has resulted in positive growth hence benefiting many people.

What measures the government can implement to end homelessness in South Africa

Census of homeless people.

The only way the government can alleviate homelessness in South Africa is through the census. This will help them get a clear picture of what they are dealing with; hence coming up with the best measures to end this crisis.

Issue of important documentation

Important documentation is paramount to all citizens of any country. The government should intensify the issues of documents such as birth certificates and identity cards for homeless people. This can ensure they are not left out of social benefits.

Housing rights

All citizens have a right to adequate housing in South Africa. The government should extend such benefits to orphans and the mentally challenged in the country.

Housing inheritance

The government can come up with follow-up programs to ensure the free acquired houses are not sold. Instead, they can be passed over to the next responsible family member.

Greater access to housing policy

The government can implement a greater access policy to ensure employees get compulsory housing. Employers can provide houses to their employees through a rent-to-own policy.

Strengthen the rural economy

The government can work towards building and developing the economy in rural areas. They can focus on equalizing economic distributions in all the provinces in the country.

What citizens can do to help end homelessness in South Africa

Fellow citizens can feel compelled to help. But the question is How? Below are some of the ways citizens can help homeless people to make a lasting difference in their lives.

Understand them

To come up with the best solution to homelessness, citizens need to sit down and have a conversation with homeless people. Everyone has their own unique story. Most homeless people are not homeless out of their own choice; rather they were trapped in this circle by circumstances. All they want is empathy.

Educate others

Today, life is moving fast. Not every South African is fully informed of what is happening in their community. Some people are busy with their lives. Citizens can use their social media presence to educate fellow nationals. This way, stigmatization will reduce.

Respect them

Citizens need to change the way they address homeless people. They need to focus on them and not the situation they are going through. Addressing them as ‘people experiencing homelessness’ shows some level of courtesy.

Donate

We all need basic needs to survive. Citizens can provide people experiencing homelessness with food, clothing, or time. They can get excess food from hotels and schools and give them. Citizens can avoid giving homeless people money directly; it encourages them to live on the streets instead of in shelter homes. Nationals can donate money to Non-Governmental Organizations that work towards changing the lives of homeless people.

Equip them with skills

Citizens can donate and help homeless people in various ways, however, it might not be enough. They can teach them relevant skills that they can use to get a job. This way they can be in a position to support themselves in the future.

Volunteer

Citizens can spend their time in homeless people shelters. They can also offer to cook, clean, or even mentor them. This can create an unbreakable bond between them.

Conclusion

Homelessness in South Africa is not a recent discovery. Equally, it is not something that can be single-handed. If citizens and the government of South Africa vest lots of effort and resources, this problem can be alleviated.