M.A. (Social Work) / This study was based on qualitative research methodology and was basically exploratory, seeing as though it was aimed at the gathering of knowledge and insight. The study can also be defined as a self-initiated research as a result of the researcher's interest in the phenomenon of homelessness. As a result of the extensiveness of the problem, the study was limited to the homeless that stay in care centres in the Genniston area, of which there were four, during April 1994, when the study was undertaken. A thorough literal study was conducted, which brought to light that other countries, especially America, have already undertaken various studies to research the phenomenon of homelessness. The cross-sectional survey was chosen as the research design, which also generated hypotheses. Interview schedules were used in the collection of data and respondents were selected through systematic sampling from the target group which consisted of the total number of inhabitants of the four care centres.

The purpose of this study was to interview the social workers that work with the homeless population within the Inland Empire. Explored were the social workers perceptions of and attitudes about the homeless population as well as hoping to understand the lack of housing for the homeless and to find out what can be done to provide housing for them.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As poverty is becoming a growing concern in South Africa, poor families should not be seen as service recipients but more concern should be directed to their empowerment. Community work is an essential method to utilize for the empowerment of poor families since it involves working with people from individual up to community level. The Department of Social Development does not have guidelines based on the utilization of community work; as a result this method is not utilized to its full potential. The purpose of the study was to formulate guidelines on the utilization of community work on the family level. In order to achieve this aim, the objectives of this study, which mainly focused on describing the socio-economic circumstances of the poor families and the utilization of community work, were explored. An exploratory study was utilized in order to achieve the stated goal and objectives. The population for the study consisted of practicing social workers in the Department of Social Development. Purposive sample was used. The research methodology was a quantitative design with a data collection instrument being in the form of a questionnaire. To be able to gain insight about the utilization of community work, the questionnaire consisted of both closed and open-ended questions. Literature review enabled the researcher to compile a questionnaire. The empirical study focused on the knowledge and skills of social workers in utilizing community work. In addition, data was obtained on the community work process as a main procedure to follow when implementing community work. Despite the respondents' theoretical knowledge of community work, it was concluded that community work is utilized at a minimal level. The most utilized social work method by the respondents is casework. The reason for the lack of community work practice is based on the fact that the Department of Social Development does not have guidelines with regards to community work. It was recommended that the Department of Social Development should formulate a new regulation that will oblige the social workers to practice community work. In-service training should be held quarterly. Supervision should be offered regularly. Relevant qualification and extensive social work experience should be considered as a minimum requirement for managerial positions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel armoede 'n al groter probleem in Suid-Afrika raak, behoort arm gesinne in 'n toenemende mate nie net slegs as ontvangers van dienste beskou word nie, maar moet ook aandag geskenk word aan hulle bemagtiging. Aangesien gemeenskapswerk betrokke is by die persoon sowel as die persoon in die gemeenskap, kan dit beskou word as die aangewese metode om arm gesinne te bemagtig. Die Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling beskik oor geen riglyne vir die aanwending van gemeenskapswerk nie en gevolglik word die metode nie ten volle benut nie. Die studie het ten doel om riglyne vir die implementering van gemeenskapwerk op die vlak van die gesin te formuleer. Derhalwe word die klem op die beskrywing van die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede van arm gesinne en die gebruik van gemeenskapswerk as metodiek geplaas. 'n Verkennende studie is gebruik om die navorsingsoogmerke te bereik. Respondente vir die studie was praktiserende maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling. 'n Doelbewuste steekproef is benut. Daar is hoofsaaklik op kwantitatiewe navorsing gefokus en inligting is deur middel van vraelyste ingewin. Ten einde insig te ontwikkel in die gebruik van gemeenskapswerk is beide oop en geslote vrae gebruik. Die literatuurstudie het die navorser in staat gestel om die vraelys saam te stel. Die empiriese studie was gerig op die kennis en vaardighede waaroor gemeenskapswerkers beskik en hoe dit geïmplementeer word. Addisionele empiriese inligting is ook ten opsigte van die proses van gemeenskapswerk verkry. Dit het aan die lig gekom dat ten spyte van voldoende teoretiese kennis van gemeenskapswerk die metode minimaal gebruik word. Gevallewerk word steeds die meeste tydens intervensie aangewend. 'n Gebrek aan riglyne vir die gebruik van gemeenskapswerk, word as die rede waarom gemeenskapswerk nie implementeer word nie, aangevoer. Dit word aanbeveel dat die Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling regulasies vir die uitvoering van dienste deur middel van die gemeenskapswerk metode moet instel. Hierdie riglyne behoort maatskaplike werkers te inspireer om die voordele van gemeenskapswerk te ondersoek en aan te wend. Indiensopleiding behoort op 'n kwartaallikse basis te geskied. Supervisie moet geredelik beskikbaar wees. Relevante kwalifikasies en uitgebreide praktykervaring as minimum vereistes vir bestuursposte sal oorweeg moet word.

No description available.

The present study assessed the relationship between mentally ill homeless and their companion pets and questioned if the pets acted as a barrier for them to receive shelter and other services. The study also sought to find if pets acted as a communication tool between this population and society. themselves because they are mentally vulnerable and victims of a mental disorder.

This study was an outcome assessment of how well "Lifeline", a transitional shelter for women and their children, has been fulfilling its stated mission. It was also a program evaluation in terms of learning what former residents of Lifeline think about the quality and the importance of Lifeline's program.

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of housing services on the bio-psycho-social functioning of homeless persons with HIV/AIDS. Ideally, taking a homeless person with HIV/AIDS and returning them to a healthy state would be a goal of any social service intervention.

The purpose of this project was to find out whether or not there were specific factors that made homeless people depressed. Finding depression factors will help to establish strategies and programs that would prevent homeless people from being depressed. The current study tested the hypothesis that basic needs and education are needed to help in factoring depression.

This study explores the demand and supply oriented factors that may contribute to the size of nonprofit organizations in the U.S. communities. This research tests demand theory, which indicated that nonprofit organizations grow more in communities where large service demand exists and when there is a service gap between community demand and government service supply. On the other hand, supply theories contend that nonprofit organizations are prevalent where a community carries the supply of human capital and financial resources and these supply of human and economic capital will mobilize nonprofit organizations to fulfill civic duties. For the scientific test of demand and supply theories, this study employs hierarchical linear model (HLM) and develops a longitudinal data set from multiple sources such as Department of Housing and Urban Development and National Charitable Center for Statistics, and Census. The proposed model analyzes how demand and supply indicators explain homeless serving nonprofit organizations size. The size of homeless service nonprofit was measured by three indicators: number of nonprofits, revenue of nonprofits and number of shelter beds. The findings of HLM analyses confirmed some of demand and supply factors that contribute homeless service nonprofit size. The communities with higher level of chronic homeless population have more nonprofit organizations when we control community size. Also, we found the communities with a greater number of educated individuals are more likely to invest in nonprofit organizations. And it was noteworthy that the higher education institution was a positive supply factor for the nonprofit size in our communities.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The escalation in the growing upsurge of informal settlements seems to create a few problems for local municipalities in the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA). At the beginning of 1998 the capacity of the City Of Cape Town Municipality (CCT) was fully tested with the coming into being of a new informal settlement in the Tafelsig, Mitchell's Plain area. During the Easter weekend of that year homeless people started to invade a piece of vacant land, which belongs to this municipality, illegally. With the establishing of Freedom Park many of the homeless felt that the time was ripe for this municipality to address their problems and grievances. However up till now this has not materialised, as this municipality is refusing to make any service delivery and infrastructure available to them. Despite this, the people are still reluctant to submit to the demand of the municipality to evacuate the piece of land. Hitherto many had asked questions about the settlement and its people. With the asking of these questions, people had shown their ignorance about the Freedom Park issue. This ignorance led people to make certain assumptions, which are clearly far from the truth. The aim of this study is thus to present more clear-cut answers to the most common questions people had asked and still are asking. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groeiende toename in informele nedersettings in die Kaapse Metropolitaanse Gebied blyk toenemend om 'n probleem vir plaaslike owerhede te wees. Aan die begin van 1998 was die kapasiteit van die Kaapse Munisipaliteit om sulke situasies te hanteer ten volle getoets. In hierdie tydperk het haweloses van die Tafelsig, Mitchell's Plain, area die reg in eie hande geneem deur 'n stuk grond wat aan hierdie munisipaliteit behoort onwettig te beset. Met die vestiging van Freedom Park het baie van hierdie mense gedink dat hulle frustrasies en probleme deur hierdie munisipaliteit aangehoor sou word. Dit het egter tot op hede nog nie 'n werklikheid geword, deurdat dié munisipaliteit huiwer om tydelike en korttermyn infrastrukture aan hierdie mense beskikbaar te stel. Ten spyte hiervan is die inwoners van hierdie nedersetting egter vasbeslote om nie in te gee aan die versoek van die munisipaliteit om die grond te ontruim nie. Tot op hede was daar baie vra gevra rondom hierdie nedersetting en sy inwoners. Met hierdie vrae het sulkes hulonkunde om die Freedom Park kwessie suksesvol te hanteer en te verstaan bewys. Dit is dus in hierdie lig dat hierdie studie onderneem was. Die sentrale doelwit van dié studie is dus om meer duidelikheid te werp op vrae soos: Wie is hierdie mense? Waarvandaan kom hulle? Hoekom het hulle tot so 'n drastiese stap oorgegaan?