Du Toit, Jacques Louis2010-08-312010-08-312010-03Du Toit, J 2010, 'Local metropolitan government responses to homelessness in South Africa', Development Southern Africa, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 111-128. [http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/0376835x.asp]0376-835X10.1080/03768350903519390http://hdl.handle.net/2263/14765This article examines metropolitan government responses to homelessness in South Africa, including the context of responses, preparedness to respond, factors influencing responses, shelter locations, and homeless persons’ views. Whereas the literature emphasises the need for spatial or physical interventions, this research, using multiple case studies, found that three out of four metropolitan municipalities viewed homelessness primarily as a social dependency issue and responded with social interventions. Yet homeless persons indicated that the most important thing the municipality could do for them was to provide employment and well-located affordable housing. The study concludes that municipalities might respond more effectively with spatial or physical interventions such as equitable urban planning and design and sensitive land use management, and by providing affordable housing close to places of employment.en© 2010 Development Bank of Southern Africa. This is an electronic version of an article published in Development Southern Africa, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1-20, 2010. Development Southern Africa is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com. This article is embargoed by the publisher until September 2011.Local governmentMetropolitan municipalityHomelessnessAffordable housingLow-cost housing; urban planningUrban planningLow-income housing -- South AfricaHomelessness -- South AfricaMunicipal government -- South AfricaMetropolitan government -- South AfricaPostprint Article