How do western typologies help in defining homelessness in developing countries?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2006

Country:: India, China, Peru, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Ghana, Egypt
Document Type:: Research Paper
Theme:: Governance and Conflict
Authors:: Tipple, G.

Abstract

This paper reviews the typologies of homelessness available at the time of a major international study on homelessness in developing countries (2001). It uses the data from the nine countries studied (Bangladesh, South Africa, China, Zimbabwe, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Ghana and Peru) to demonstrate where the typologies which were devised for industrialised countries are useful and where they fall short of assisting understanding of homelessness in developing countries. In an attempt to lay the ground for developing one or more typologies for developing countries, seven criteria used in the study countries are presented. The last, that there is potential for improvement (an upward trajectory) is particularly useful in developing countries contexts.

Citation

Paper presented at Homelessness: Global Perspective, International Conference on Homelessness, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India, January 9th-13th 2006, pp. 240-274