Exploratory Study of Homelessness in Ledeta Sub City of Addis Ababa
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Homelessness is one of the main problems that many countries, including Ethiopia, face. This thesis is an exploratory study of homelessness in Addis Ababa- Ledeta sub city, an urban slum area in the southwestern part of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The purpose of this research is two-fold: 1) to develop a questionnaire to assess homelessness in Ethiopia, 2) to find out the history and causes of homelessness, the challenges of living as a homeless person, and the strengths of the homeless in finding a way out from homelessness. The questionnaire was developed in two parts. First, individual narratives with 25 homeless individuals formed the basis for modifying an existing interview used with the homeless in New York City. The instrument was revised and tested with an additional 50 homeless persons. The final version of the Ashenafi Hagos Homeless Questionnaire was fielded with 100 additional homeless persons living on the street in tents and plastic sheeting, in shelters, and the hidden homeless who rent cheap rooms for the night in urban houses. The major findings of the study include: 1) factors which lead individuals to homelessness are rural-urban migration, early childhood experiences, and unemployment; 2) homeless people’s sources of income include begging, working as a house-servant, and other secondary jobs;, 3) preferable places of living are areas around hospitals, churches, colleges and at the sides of rivers; 4) major challenges faced by the homeless people are shortage of food, health problems, lack of security, discrimination and stigma; ,5) single women and children face many challenges than other group of homeless population; 6) homeless individuals who are living in plastic accommodations face more challenges as compared to the other ones; and 7)most of the homeless believe that they can not be housed by themselves. The Ashenafi Hagos Homeless Questionnaire (AHHQ) can be used to understand the background of homeless people, the main causes of homelessness, the challenges they face, their ways of living, and their strengths. Implications for social action include: 1) provision of low cost housing and temporary shelter; 2) provision of training and employment; 3) provision of health facilities, 4) provision of conducive environment to educate homeless children; 5) legal coverage especially for women and children; 6) alcohol and chat recovery services programs; and 7) advocacy in order to gain support from the wider community and to reduce stigma and discrimination
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Social Work