The homeless, those who have no secure place to live and with no fixed address, predominately live and work on the street, living in rudimentary shelters which have limited space. There is a lack of consensus on the total number of homeless people living on the street, but the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) estimate a nationwide number of between 100 000 and 200 000.

Those living on the street are homeless for various reasons, which may include unemployment; substance abuse; mental and physical health issues; little or no income; ineligibility for a social grant; and lack of familial support. Women living on the street may be victims of domestic violence. The homeless are in greater danger of violence than the general population, and they are also more vulnerable to infectious diseases such as TB.

Many collect recyclable waste or guard cars to earn a small income, while others beg and scavenge for food; their diet is almost always inadequate. The homeless are those we prefer not to see, and whom we regard as a nuisance. We judge them as being responsible for their own misfortune and dismissively avert our gaze. The homeless are the most marginal of social groups.

Paper by CPLO