Feminisation of poverty among the street homeless women in South Africa

This article gives an overview of poverty, deprivation and homelessness as a social ill that is eating deep into the society's fabric. It affirms that these concepts are inextricably linked, illustrating this with the case of the street homeless women. Furthermore, it describes the characteristics of street homeless women in Johannesburg inner city and their perception of poverty. It also describes the survival strategies adopted by these women on the streets. The article also illustrates that street homeless women suffer most from unprecedented population growth, high levels of poverty, homelessness, illiteracy and unemployment. They form part of the largest group of the poorly sheltered population. The street homeless women in particular constitute a population at risk, especially when the nature of their homelessness is concealed. The article suggests it might be appropriate to give special attention to the poorest segment of the population, which includes the street homeless women. They must be made to participate fully and equally in policies and strategies to alleviate poverty.