Abstract
Homelessness does not just refer to the lack of shelter; instead, it involves the lack of access to different aspects of life such as the lack of comfort, safety, joy, and love which are physiological and emotional prerequisites for a comfortable life. Most of the homeless people in the City of Tshwane (CoT) have risen due to economic, social, and political pressures. Most people moved from the rural to urban areas hoping for better living conditions, however, due to the high cost of living, unemployment rate, and socio-economic factors, many people are trapped in an unfavourable cycle of homelessness. Literature outlines the various socioeconomic drivers that trigger homelessness across cities as persistent and global – thus precipitating the need to explore and unpack this theme. A qualitative exploratory research design was selected as it paves way for the exploration of the social reality of the initial sample size of 15 homeless participants. Through a qualitative approach, an interview was conducted; and only 9 responses were captured. The findings indicate the realities experienced by the homeless, for instance, most of the respondents were all homeless and slept on street pavements. Most respondents were previously employed in the past, and as a result of substance abuse, homelessness soon followed. The respondents' line of employment also did not pay well, and it was discovered that they eventually left work owing to issues with transportation and mobility. Only a small portion of the respondents said that they felt ashamed of the fact that they were looking for employment, however, did not have the necessary skills and resources such as documentation, shelter, safety, and finance to enter the market. These findings hope to encourage more research, action and debate for tangible and relevant development within the housing sector across Tshwane.