Student homelessness, the study of its causalities and manifestations in the University of the Witwatersrand

Abstract

This research is a discourse on student homelessness, the study of its causalities and manifestations in the University of the Witwatersrand. This discourse builds on views and perspectives in literature on the concept of spatial and socio-economic justice including supportive planning legislations which constitute the geography of the literary study in chapter 2. This discourse relates the theories of Harvey, Van Empel, and Ratsoy et al. toward a student-centric view of university planning pro-cesses.

This ethnographic study has a community participation orientation in urban devel-opment planning. This qualitative case study involves data collection toward orien-tation on manifestations and causal factors of student homelessness. Drawing on empirical data, with justification a position in radical planning theory and spatial development policy such as Spatial Planning and Land-use Act of 2013. This study contributes toward theoretical debates on student homelessness planning. Further-more, the findings from this research can inform public policy related to student emergency accommodation and student homelessness.