![Sample our Social Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110822/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Social-Sciences.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This article presents the case of one local housing organisation in the City of Tshwane and its mother organisation, responding to different faces of homelessness through creating diversified housing options. It asserts that the absence of such housing options would render people homeless, or extremely precarious. It insists that homelessness is also a housing issue, challenging a dominant discourse among city officials and politicians relegating homelessness to departments dealing with social services, thereby making it an individual welfare issue, failing to acknowledge the systemic causes of homelessness. It outlines specific challenges for policy, strategy and funding, that—if addressed—could break cycles of homelessness for large percentages of the homeless population.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
2 This is illustrated by the fact that current available budgets to address street homelessness—being limited as it is—focus on welfare services or temporary shelter, and not on any form of permanent housing. Policy frameworks of the South Africa National Department of Human Settlements, and even the Social Housing Regulatory Framework, makes no specific provision enabling housing provision of homeless persons or families.
3 I base this on numerous policy conversations and planning workshops to address homelessness, both in the Cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg, and with officials from the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
4 Information was provided through electronic communication with Zanele Mofokeng, Operations Manager of Yeast City Housing, 13 July 2020.
5 Information was provided through electronic communication with Manisha Ramnarain, Project Manager of The Potter’s House, and Wilna de Beer, CEO of the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, 6 July 2020.
6 Information was provided through electronic communication with Vestine Ntakirutimana, Project Manager of Lerato House, and Wilna de Beer, CEO of the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, 6 and 13 July 2020.
7 Information was provided through electronic communication with Marlies Dauber, Project Manager of the Rivoningo Care Centre, and Wilna de Beer, CEO of the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, 6 July 2020.
8 See the article by Moagi and Mogale elsewhere in this collection, engaging this community in more detail.
9 This is based on a focus group conversation I had with residents of the Gilead Community House in the inner city of Tshwane, held on 22 February 2015, and re-asserted since then in continuous engagements with staff and residents of the Gilead Community House.
10 Information was provided through electronic communication with Marlies Dauber, Project Manager of the Rivoningo Care Centre, and Wilna de Beer, CEO of the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, 6 and 15 July 2020.
11 #FeesMustCall was a nationwide student protest for fee-free education at South African institutions of higher education, rolled out on campuses across the country.
12 See article on student homelessness by Mashayamombe and Vally elsewhere in this special collection.
13 Also see article by Venter elsewhere in the special collection, focusing on primary health care in temporary COVID-19 homeless shelters in the City of Tshwane.
14 Based on anecdotal evidence of street outreach workers in the City of Tshwane, as well as monthly statistics of drop-in centres, supporting homeless persons living on the streets of the city.
15 This is evident in the general non-participation, or very limited participation, of this Department in conversations to address street homelessness in the City of Tshwane, experienced by the author of this article.
16 Also see the article by Renkin elsewhere in this special collection focusing on the COVID-19 response to street homelessness in the City of Tshwane.
17 See the extensive discussion on policy formation and its challenges by De Beer and Vally, elsewhere in this special collection.
18 See also the article by De Beer and Vally elsewhere in this special collection, in this regard.
19 See also the articles by De Beer and Vally, and Renkin, elsewhere in this special collection, which elaborate on emerging institutional mechanisms to address homelessness in the City of Tshwane, especially prompted during the impact of COVID-19.
20 This is further elaborated upon in the article by De Beer and Vally, elsewhere in this special collection.
21 I have not focused on a Housing First approach in this article, although it warrants further and even urgent consideration in the South African context.