Abstract
The Female-Headed Household (FHH) phenomenon is a demographic reality that has increasingly become more prevalent, not only in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also globally. Women, as heads of these families play a dominant role not only in taking care of their households but also significant roles in their communities. They are however vulnerable due the high incidence of poverty arising mainly from continued discrimination in the labour market and them having to perform more non-paying domestic work in addition to reproductive roles, carers of dependants, and other domestic chores. Adequate housing plays a crucial role in the functioning of the FHHs like with all other families. Housing impacts overall quality of life as in health, safety, and economic opportunities for women. This qualitative study aimed at exploring the housing experiences of FHHs and their subjective wellbeing in the Rosedale, George, in the Western Cape. Eight (8) heads of FHHs were selected using non-random snowball-sampling, semi-structured interviews were later administered to them to collect in-depth data concerning their housing experiences. The social development framework underpinned this study as the main theoretical framework in conjunction with the social exclusion lens as a secondary analysis tool. All data were recorded digitally and analysed thematically in integration with the theoretical frameworks and relevant literature. Findings showed that despite poor housing conditions and penurious neighbourhoods, housing plays a significant role in enhancing all different dimensions of wellbeing for FHHs and supporting their dependents. In conclusion the study stresses that due to a labyrinth of financial, social, and economic structural constraints, FHHs’ housing needs must be integrated into housing and social policy planning. Therefore, the study recommends that gender and social development frameworks must also be used to understand FHHs needs and in planning and redistribution pertaining to this population group.