Homelessness in Developing Countries

The Nature and Extent of Homelessness in Developing Countries CARDO* University of Newcastle upon Tyne DFID Project No. R7905 * Now incorporated into the Global Urban Research Unit (GURU) Summary Highlights Homelessness in Developing Countries What is homelessness? The number of homeless people worldwide is estimated to be between 100 million and one billion, depending on how we count them and the definition used. However, little is known about the causes of homelessness or the characteristics of homeless people in developing countries. A study by CARDO* in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, at the University if Newcastle upon Tyne, set out to explore the nature and extent of homelessness in nine developing countries. Most of the countries studied did not have had little or no reliable data on the numbers of homeless people. Several did not have any official definition of homelessness with which to conduct a census. In some countries, street sleepers are actually discounted for census purposes because they have no official house or address. The common perception of homeless people as unemployed, drunks, criminals, mentally ill or personally inadequate is inappropriate. In developing countries homelessness is largely a result of the failure of the housing supply system to address the needs of the rapidly growing urban population. The study found that homeless people: o Have often migrated to the city to escape rural poverty or to supplement rural livelihoods o Are generally employed in low paid, unskilled work o Often choose to sleep on the streets rather than pay for accommodation, preferring to send the money to their families o Are frequently harassed, evicted, abused or imprisoned o Suffer poor health with a range of respiratory and gastric illnesses o Are victims of crime, rather than perpetrators if it o Are predominantly lone males but increasingly couples and families with children Homeless women and children are most often the victims of family abuse. Their poor economic standing places them at greater risk of homelessness in order to escape abusive situations. Street children: o Are frequently escaping abuse, particularly from stepparents or extreme poverty o Are often detained or imprisoned for being on the streets. o Mistrust adults and authority o Prefer to live on the streets rather than accept over authoritarian accommodation Homeless women: o Have generally been abandoned or widowed or are escaping abuse ii o Turn to inappropriate relationships to secure accommodation for themselves and their children o May end up begging or in prostitution to support their children In the absence of sufficient, affordable accommodation, there are a number of approaches which could be taken to improving the lives of homeless people and helping them to find, or develop their own housing. However, current strategies are often negative or unhelpful. For example, many night shelters are unused because they are either too dirty or unsafe or because they are too far from the city centre, the workplace of many homeless people. o Laws which criminalise street sleeping, such as the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, should be abolished and the practice of arresting and imprisoning people found sleeping on the streets stopped o Good, clean, easily accessible overnight accommodation should be provided for those who need it. It should take into account their livelihood strategies. o Hygiene and health facilities should be available free on the streets for pavement dwellers and street sleepers o A range of different systems to provide security of tenure for squatters should be developed, which will allow them to feel secure in investing in and developing their own housing. o Where squatters must be moved, they should be facilitated to participate in relocation plans and in the development of new settlements Contributors: Dr A. G. Tipple and Suzanne Speak, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Newcastle upon Tyne Further information: Suzanne Speak School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. University of Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle NE1 7RU Tel + 44 (0) 191 222 5646 Fax + 44 (0)191 222 8811 e-mail [email protected] Key words: Homelessness, Street Children, Squatters, Street sleepers, housing Regions: Peru, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, China. Funded by DFID Project No. 7590 iii Homelessness in Developing Countries Research Report The UK department for International Development (DFID) supports policies, projects and programmes to promote international development. DFID provided funds for this study as part of that objective but the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone Background and Objectives The key objective of this project was to explore the nature and extent of homelessness in developing countries, and to identify good practice and strategies for the eradication. In particular, the study aimed to identify how policy and practice can support homeless people and reduce homelessness. Methods The study was designed and directed by Dr A. G. Tipple and managed by Suzanne Speak from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The empirical research was conducted in ten countries (Peru, Bolivia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and China). In each of these countries a researcher was contracted to undertake research in accordance with a terms of reference (appendix 1). At least one member of the UK team visited each of the countries to gain deeper understanding and support the researcher, with the exception of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Indonesia. Previous detailed knowledge or experience of these countries meant that it was not necessary to visit them. Draft reports were submitted and reviewed by Dr Tipple and Ms Speak and returned, with comments for amendment or completion. Final reports have been analysed for key finding, from which this initial report has been produced. Analysis will continue and further publications and conference papers are being written. Early in the study a global discussion group was developed which received considerable interest and stimulated ongoing debate. This debate further informed iv the development of the research. An on-line conference was held in the second year, with 20 papers submitted and viewed on line for several months. Implications of the findings for policy 1 Defining and counting homelessness Most developing countries have poor or non-existent data relating to homelessness. There is an urgent need for governments to undertake adequate censuses of homeless people. Our study highlights huge differences in the percentage of the population which is recognised as homeless in different countries. However, this is likely to be influenced by the ‘service statistics paradox’, in that, those countries with a willingness to acknowledge homelessness, and to establish services for homeless people, are more likely to be able to locate and count them and thus, will have more accurate (and higher) figures. In order to count homeless people, there must first be a working definition of homelessness, which there is not in most of the countries studies. Governments and NGOs may need assistance to undertake adequate censuses and to define homelessness in order to inform policies on housing, land allocation and support for homeless people. Western definitions and typologies of homelessness are inappropriate for developing countries, therefore new definitions must be developed, However, it should be noted that a single definition of homelessness is unlikely to be appropriate to all developing countries. 2 Differentiating between squatting and homelessness in order to priorities policy and support Squatting should not necessarily be excluded from a definition of homelessness. However, it is appropriate to try to differentiate between squatters and other forms of homelessness, especially street homelessness. If squatters are to be included in the definition of homelessness, their sheer numbers might distract attention from those in more desperate circumstances, such as the street homeless, without any form of shelter. Thus, limited resources might not be prioritised for the most needy. This distinction is less clear in some countries. For example, in India some street homeless people may remain in the same location for many years, living in relatively v well-made shelters. Conversely, in Peru and South Africa, squatters’ shelters may be of a very poor quality for a considerable length of time, as people are unwilling to invest time or money in their housing until they know they will not be moved on. The legal position of homeless people In many countries, the legal position of squatters and other homeless people, particularly street homeless people, is poor, and both suffer raids. Street homeless people are moved generally because they are perceived as a nuisance or they disturb the attractiveness of the city. However, raids on squatter settlements are generally to clear development land for more valuable uses. In a number of countries, homelessness and street sleeping is actually illegal and punishable by imprisonment. For example, in India, the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, is used to clear the streets of homeless people when important events are to take place. Many other countries report similar ‘cosmetic’ clearing of the streets. It is vital that, where they exist, these laws be challenged and overturned. 3 The nature

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