Homelessness in South Africa stretches back to the time of apartheid. Increasing unemployment, a shortage of cheap housing, societal disintegration, and social and economic policies have all been mentioned as factors contributing to the problem. Some academics think that solutions to homelessness in South Africa should be found in the private sector rather than the legal and political.
In South Africa, there is no national census of homeless individuals; instead, researchers rely on individual studies of homeless people in specific towns.
The homeless population in South Africa is estimated to be around 200,000 people.
According to one study, three out of four South African urban towns saw homelessness as largely a social dependency issue, to which they responded with social interventions. At the same time, homeless South Africans indicated that job and well-located cheap housing were the most important things the municipality could help them with.
Causes
Homelessness is shaped by social and economic insecurity, which is exacerbated by informal housing and a lack of government legislation. The financial strain placed on people living on the streets is exacerbated since, unlike the shanty population, they lack the potential to accumulate wealth.
Even while the economy is recovering, unemployment remains at 27%, contributing to homelessness.
In Stellenbosch, South Africa, a homeless person collects recyclables.
High rates of migration into cities, with the government unable to keep up with the inflow. Following apartheid, non-white South Africans were free to settle into formerly prohibited areas, resulting in a lack of employment options.
Prevalence
Demographics There is no agreement on the total number of homeless persons on the street. According to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), there are between 100,000 and 200,000 homeless people in the United States.
On the streets, it is more common to see street children or lone individuals than entire families. The majority of the homeless on the streets are black men. The street has a higher frequency of men, but the shack population has a higher female population. According to a profile of homeless people in Cape Town, males outnumber females in homeless shelters by three to one.
Rural areas have a higher proportion of homeless people than cities, and a bigger proportion of the rural population is poorer than in cities.
Children on the Street
Large migrations of street children over borders into South Africa originate in neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe; this migration phenomenon is becoming more common among homeless youngsters.
A large proportion also come from metropolitan townships, as opposed to a higher proportion of adults coming from rural areas. They are compelled to leave since there are insufficient means to support them in impoverished living conditions.
Street Children who are abused physically and psychologically are more likely to develop a substance use disorder.
Is there a homeless problem in South Africa?
There are no accurate figures on the number of homeless persons in South Africa. However, data from 2020 show that up to 14,000 people live on the streets in Cape Town alone.
In South Africa, where do the homeless go?
For assistance, please call the Displaced Persons Unit at 011 407 7308. In Hillbrow, the Kotze Overnight Refuge provides overnight shelter, ablution facilities, meals, hygiene packs, support groups, and temporary job placement. For assistance, please call the Displaced Persons Unit at 011 407 7308.
What percentage of South Africa’s population is homeless?
In South Africa, it is believed that there are approximately 200,000 homeless persons.
What is the South African government doing to combat homelessness?
The Department of Human Settlements has launched several initiatives to alleviate the plight of the homeless, including (1) the development of socialized housing programs for low-income families, (2) the refurbishment of informal settlements, and (3) a special-needs housing initiative that provides indigent families with affordable housing.
