Local council's response to street homelessness in Welkom

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate, how Welkom council is responding to street homelessness in Welkom. The democratic government adopted, the Reconstruction and Development Programme, as an integrated socio-economic policy framework, to mobilize national, and human resources, towards a sustainable housing for urban, and rural poor. However, despite, the government’s concerted commitment to providing massive housing for its citizens, the problem of homelessness, remains pervasive. Three themes, which emerged as critical during the study, are discussed in detail, namely, lack of housing policy, addressing specifically street homelessness; lack of financial and legal mandate, by the local council, to house street homelessness; and lack of research department, and human resources for effective conceptualization of the issue. It is argued that the department of research is critical in providing strategic research facilities, in areas of housing policy, and legislation frameworks. Equally critical, is the need for skilled human resources, necessary for strategic and holistic provision of efficient and effective services. The study suggests complete overhaul of the national housing policy making it holistically inclusive. Equally suggested, is capacity building necessary for sustainable, efficient, and effective housing delivery and eradication of homelessness.