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Act III Scene I: Adding Color (November 16, 2015)

Slideshow Test
“Bawawethu” (December 3, 2015)
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2015
Expanding Early Childhood Development Opportunities in an Informal Settlement
Exploring New Outreach Models for Early Childhood Development
Fostering Community at the Canterbury Street Lot
Providing More than a Meal at Service Dining Rooms
Background
Homelessness in South Africa
Resources Available to Street People in Cape Town
US Soup Kitchens
Interior Design Methodologies for the Homeless
Arts and Music Programmes for the Homeless in the U.S.
Partnerships
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Upgrading the K2 Informal Settlement through Community Collaboration
Women’s Empowerment through Increased Access and Understanding of Technology
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2007
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Welcome to Langrug
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Setting the Stage
Sponsor: Community Organisation Resource Centre
Sponsor: Department of Integrated Human Settlements
Cast of Characters
 Project Planning
References

Homelessness in South Africa

According to a recent estimate by the Human Sciences Resource Center, South Africa is home to approximately 200,000
street homeless people, a significant portion of the nation’s population of 53.5 million (Rule-Groenewald et al., 2015).
Members of the street community come from a variety of backgrounds, and this group is quite diverse in many ways. To
begin working toward a better understanding of this diverse group, we should consider: What is meant by the terms “street
people” and “homeless people”? What are some factors affecting homelessness? What challenges do people without a home
face? What government policies have had an impact on people who live on the street?

“Street people” and “homeless people” are often used synonymously, and “homelessness” is often simplified to mean those
who do not have a house. However, homelessness is a complex term. Homeless people may have no shelter, access to a
temporary roof, or an informal shack that is not safe or secure (Rule-Groenwald et al., 2015). Further, for those who live on
the streets, some may be temporarily living on the streets while others may have lived on the streets for many years. Given
these complexities, this population is referred to as ‘street people,’ which more appropriately reflects individuals who have
no access to a roof or shelter, live and sleep on the streets for a number of reasons, and have done so for any period of time.
This project primarily worked with street people. While most people utilizing SDR’s services are homeless, we
acknowledge that individuals and families that have access to some form of housing comprise a portion of SDR’s guests.

Many causes of homelessness exist in South Africa, including structural, personal, and cultural factors. Of the structural
causes of homelessness, housing shortage, unemployment, and rapid urbanization are some of the most pertinent. Housing
is often unavailable, unaffordable, or inaccessible to the people who need it (Olufemi, 2000). According to the 2013 General
Household Survey released by Statistics South Africa, 13.6% of the South African population lives in informal dwellings.
Jobs are similarly difficult to find. The most recent estimate from Statistics South Africa indicates that the employment rate
in the nation is 25% (Statssa.gov, 2015). Further, rapid urbanization intensifies these challenges in cities. Greater economic
opportunity is present in cities; the 2010 General House Survey states that 53% of people were employed between the ages
of 15 and 64 in South African metropolitan areas compared to 29% in the more rural, former Bantustan areas (Turok,
2012). As a result, many people move to cities in search of work and struggle to find it; the current unemployment rate in
metropolitan areas is between 16 and 33% (Statssa.gov, 2015).

Not all of those impacted by South Africa’s structural challenges experience homelessness, thus personal circumstances also
influence the state of homelessness. In their study of over 1,200 homeless individuals in South Africa, Cross and Seager
determined that top reasons for heading to the streets included experiences with abuse and domestic violence, family
problems, eviction, economic difficulties at home, and a search for independence or a better life (Cross & Seager, 2010).

Countless challenges affect the daily life of people who live on the street. According to a study by Moyo et al. (2015) of
homeless people in Hillbrow, South Africa, common difficulties faced included violence, mistreatment by police, sexual
abuse, and accessing proper healthcare. Additionally, Miriam Tembe (2015), a researcher participating in a homelessness
research collaboration known as the Homeless Summit, observed that many street members have difficulty accessing food,
sanitation, and safety. For example, Sharon, interviewed by Tembe (2015), discussed her situation saying, “I don’t have
house, I don’t have fridge, and I don’t have money so I depend on people to give me food.” Another street person, John,
explained that he manages the uncertainty of his homeless situation by sleeping outside a university building because “there
are guards, we are safe with them” (cited in Tembe, 2015). These quotes reveal the difficulties homeless people face, and the
struggles endured to obtain basic resources.

Government policies and policing, while intending to benefit the public, can pose significant difficulties for the homeless,
who in some fashion live outside the boundaries of society. For example, City Improvement Districts (CIDs), which are
privately funded areas that receive additional security among other benefits in an effort to promote economic growth with
the goal of making the space more attractive to suitable investors and safe for tourists and residents, restrict the movement
of homeless individuals. CIDs work to remove the homeless and panhandlers from the streets. In the early 2000s, homeless
people were commonly moved by private security vehicles and taken to other areas. More recently, several NGOs have
worked with the local government to keep street people out of CID zones in a less forceful manner that involves working
with street people to find an alternative location to reside in (Miraftab, 2007). Enforcement of these policies has varied over
time and from place to place, but policies such as these have made life even more difficult for street people. This is a
particular issue for the homeless in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, and the area surrounding Service Dining Rooms is
part of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID)

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