“Hey, it is Rough Out Here”: A Resilience Lens on the Biopsychosocial Circumstances of Homeless Older Persons in the City of Tshwane

Abstract

The biopsychosocial circumstances of homeless older persons (male and female persons, 55 years and older), specifically considered from a resilience lens, are inadequately described within the South African context. This study explored and described the biopsychosocial circumstances of homeless older persons in the City of Tshwane from a resilience lens. A qualitative research approach, operationalised through a collective case study, was implemented with 34 older persons across different research sites in the metropolitan area. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Transcriptions of interviews were analysed through a process of thematic analysis.Apart from a brief profile, six themes are reported; (1) the choice of areas where homeless older persons reside, (2) the causes of homelessness, (3) the adversities they face and (4) coping strategies employed by homeless older persons, (5) the services and professionals homeless older persons utilised, and (6) the voices of participants concerning their recommendations for the City of Tshwane. Considered from a resilience lens, recommendations for an integrated social services delivery framework are offered for mitigating the harsh circumstances of homelessness among older persons.

'No Matter How Harsh, We Are Alive': Coping Strategies of Rural–Urban Migrant Homeless Older People in Ethiopia

“…Likewise, an earlier study by HelpAge International ( 2011 ) revealed that homeless older people in Ethiopia used begging as their primary source of income to survive. Consistent with our findings in Ethiopia, older homeless adults in South Africa used a variety of coping mechanisms that included both intrapersonal and interpersonal strategies (Geyer, 2021 ).…”

“…Yet, in the absence of public income support for older adults and in light of persistent age discrimination, a significant portion of older adults who migrate to urban areas end up homeless (HelpAge International, 2013 ). Although a few studies have examined the plight of homeless older adults in other Sub‐Saharan nations such as Nigeria (Geyer, 2021 ) and South Africa (Hellandendu, 2014 ), the struggles of homeless older adults in Ethiopia have received little attention. Likewise, while there has been some attention to the push factors contributing to the growing problem of homelessness in the continent (Makiwane et al, 2010 ; Speak, 2020 ), less attention has been given to older adults' responses to homelessness.…”

A Resilience Lens on Homeless Older Persons in the City of Tshwane: An Illumination Through Photovoice

“…In the developing world, including South Africa, most of the recent studies on the homeless considered specifically from a social work perspective have been limited to the Gauteng province. For example, in 2021 Mahlangu and Kgadima (2021) published a study that focused on the social exclusion and associated stigma of homeless adults in the CoT; Geyer (2020) published work on the resilience of HOPs in the CoT; however, these studies reflect the context of pre-COVID-19. Moyo, Patel and Ross (2015) published on homelessness and mental illness in Hillbrow in the City of Johannesburg.…”

Fostering Integrated, Collaborative Approaches to End Street Homelessness: A COVID-19 Perspective

“…A description of the characteristics and the face of the homeless population in the City of Tshwane (CoT) 1 is not described in this article, as it has been described elsewhere (cf. Makiwane, Tamasane, and Schneider 2010;Mashau and Kritzinger 2014;Renkin 2015;Kriel, Tembe, and Mashava 2017;Marcus et al 2020;De Beer and Hugo 2021;Geyer 2021;Scheibe et al 2021). In the article, the terms homeless persons and homeless people refer to people who find themselves on the streets and are unable to secure shelter for themselves.…”