Policy to address homelessness takes shape at convention

“Unless there is an exercise in educating government officials, security and the public, the policy will end up being a well-meaning document but essentially pointless because it would not change the lives of the homeless on the ground.”

March 3, 2024

Lebohang Pita 3 minutes read

Professor Stephan de Beer, Andrew Wessels, Mary-Gillett de Klerk and Dr Raymond Perrier.

The lack of political will to address homelessness in South Africa was the main point of conversation during the discussion draft for a green paper for the national policy on homelessness at the seventh National Homeless Convention at Manger Care Centre (MCC) in Benoni on February 20.

Around 80 representatives from various organisations fighting homelessness across the country discussed and came up with suggestions and insights to help the Department of Social Development (DSD) shape the national homeless policy.

The discussions were led by Dr Raymond Perrier, Professor Stephan de Beer and Jon Hopkins. They collected the insights for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which works with the National Homeless Network.
The HSRC will take this information and advise the DSD on the national homeless policy.

Ekurhuleni Homeless Forum secretary Andrew Wessels with Gugu Mtshali.

According to Perrier, the convention was the first step that formed part of an ongoing process around South Africa where discussion groups, academics and practitioners and those with experience put together ideas for the policy.

“They are all passionate about homelessness and have real experience in delivering services to the homeless or having been homeless themselves,” he said.

“It is helpful to hear from them how they feel the government could be more helpful and how it makes it hard for them to help fight homelessness,” he said.

Jon Hopkins from U-turn Homeless Ministries.

Implementation

Perrier acknowledged South Africa had a problem with policy implementation. He said the homeless policy should contain sufficient details that make it easier to action.

“It is a significant challenge. Unless there is an exercise in educating government officials, security and the public, the policy will end up being a well-meaning document but essentially pointless because it would not change the lives of the homeless on the ground.”

“Is it going to be an exercise that will make life better for people living on the streets to reintegrate them into society and prevent those at risk of becoming homeless to not becoming homeless? Those are the two challenges,” Perrier said.

Dr Raymond Perrier is the director of the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban.

Change of mindset

Perrier said he hoped once the policy is passed, it would address many issues faced by the homeless and help change people’s mindsets, especially the police, who he said often treated homeless people as criminals and addicts.

“The view of the homeless not being real human beings perpetuates that belief. To be fair, we turn a blind eye and say the problem has been solved. One of the classic ways of dealing with the issue is by moving the problem elsewhere. We keep moving the problem instead of solving it.”

The insights collected at the convention will help shape the national homeless policy.

He explained homelessness would remain a complex problem as long as the government keeps treating the symptoms rather than implementing policies and plans targeting the root cause.

“A lot of people ignore homelessness. They see it in terms of a few individuals at the robots, who they hope went away and then the problem will be solved. They are not aware that this is the tip of the iceberg.

“There is a substantial homelessness problem in our cities. I think there is a great tradition of treating homeless people as if they are not real human beings or citizens,” he said.

Bridget Bailey, Nina Visser and Catherine Taxer from the Homestead Helpers.

Perrier called for greater education and awareness of homelessness and thanked the media for telling positive stories about homeless people.

“A lot of the language used around homeless people is about denigrating them and not treating them as people. When we talk about homeless people’s rights, people get upset. Homeless people have rights, just like any other citizen,” said Perrier.

“The media are very positive. I have seen much of the negative language in government. We rarely see stories depicting homeless people as criminals, addicts or violent and a threat to safety.