DISCOURSES OF HOMELESS YOUTH AND THE ECONOMIC FACTORS IN THESE DISCOURSES

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INTRODUCTION

Homelessness is a term with vast meanings that involves a wide range of experiences. It is generally equated with lack of a house or shelter. In this sense homelessness is the living condition of many people all over the world, and is a widespread phenomenon specifically in South Africa. The reasons or factors leading to homelessness may vary, but it is a reality. The demographic figures for homeless persons in the world, especially in cities, are increasing at an alarming rate. The youth now constitute a major portion of the world’s homeless people.
The condition of homelessness in a way dehumanises these youth. Living on the streets or in night shelters, they face many struggles, from bad weather to robbery or rape. Many of them no longer feel their human dignity and the worth of their personality. Sometimes they become desperate. In the midst of all these struggles, however, these young people retain the power of youth and are able to see the possibilities of life, to change themselves for a better tomorrow.
The homeless person’s experience and expression of his/her status of homelessness is continually informed by different discourses. These may be cultural, economic, political or other discourses. Some times various different discourses may operate together. These discourses may be invisible to the homeless person telling his/her story. Identifying the discourses and discovering the impact of them in the life situations of the teller are the tasks of the researcher.
Various factors lead homeless people to the situation of homelessness and help them to survive the experiences of homelessness. Economic factors particularly impact on their discourses, vividly strike researchers exploring their life world.
This research study is a journey with homeless youth into their experiences, described through the stories they tell, in which various discourses operate. Some of these discourses, such as the economic, tend to be dominant. This study thus develops a narrative method of getting into the life world of homeless youth and their discourses, especially the discourse of homelessness and the economic impact on it. As I write this research report, the stories told by the homeless youth and their situations are vivid in my mind. All of their predicaments are basically rooted in economic need. My being with them will not directly satisfy these needs, but in telling and retelling of their stories will hopefully contribute towards finding them alternative means to meet their economic needs. This research report is intended to promote wider knowledge about and help provide work possibilities for homeless people.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 NARRATIVE APPROACH
1.1.1 Narrative counselling
1.1.2 Narrative research
1.1.3 Narrative approach in the post-modern paradigm
1.1.4 Relation between the counselling process and research
1.1.5 Postfoundational research
1.2 THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
1.2.1 Liberation
1.2.2 Wholeness
1.2.3 Empowerment
1.2.4 Positive Change
1.2.5 Practical Theology
1.3 RESEARCH MODEL
1.3.1 Postmodernism
1.3.2 Foundationalism and non-fondationalism
1.3.3 Postfoundationalism
1.3.4 Methodology
1.3.5 The seven movements and this study
1.3.6 Methods used
1.3.7 Qualitative research
1.4 CHAPTER DIVISION
1.5 MY STORY
1.5.1 Background
1.5.2 Training
1.5.3 Narrative family therapy
1.5.4 My position in this paradigm
1.6 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER TWO: DISCOURSES OF HOMELESS YOUTH AND THE ECONOMIC FACTORS IN THESE DISCOURSES
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 YOUTH IN GENERAL
2.2.1 General definition of youth
2.2.2 Economic factors and youth
2.2.3 Development of youth
2.2.4 Housing and Youth
2.3 YOUTH IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT
2.3.1 Traditional youth
2.3.2 Modern youth
2.3.3 Post-apartheid youth
2.3.4 Youth and HIV/AIDS
2.4 IDENTIFYING THE DISCOURSES
2.4.1 Identification criteria
2.4.2 Identification methods
2.4.3 Discourses
2.4.4 Apparently dominant discourses
2.4.5 Impact of economic factors
2.5 HOMELESSNESS AS A DISCOURSE
2.5.1 Discourse analysis
2.5.2 Discourses, negative and positive
2.5.3 Homelessness as a dominant discourse
2.5.4 Economic conditions as discourse
2.6 ECONOMIC FACTORS
2.6.1 Poverty
2.6.2 Globalization
2.6.3 Substance abuse
2.6.4 Personal irresponsibility
2.6.5 Shortage of jobs
2.7 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER THREE: LISTENING TO THE HEARD AND UNHEARD STORIES OF INNER CITY HOMELESS YOUTH IN CONTEXT OF PRETORIA
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 YOUTH IN PRETORIA
3.2.1 The reality of the lives of these people
3.2.2 Homeless youth
3.2.3 Pretoria Community Ministries
3.2.4 The Street Centre and homeless people
3.3 CONTEXT OF THE STORIES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
3.3.1 Homeless youth in Pretoria
3.3.2 My involvement in the Akanani programme
3.3.3 Context of the stories heard at the Street Centre
3.4 CULTURAL DIVERSITY
3.4.1 Beyond colour
3.4.2 Understanding cultural differences
3.4.3 Diversity: hindrance or possibilit
3.4.4 Cultural stories and youth
3.4.5 Meanings emerging from cultural stories
3.5 ECONOMIC REALITY
3.5.1 Population growth
3.5.2 The labour market and unemployment
3.5.3 The market and competition
3.5.4 Youth and drug abuse
3.5.5 Economic possibilities
3.6 LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF THE YOUTH
3.6.1 Being homeless is being powerless
3.6.2 No other way
3.6.3 I should have a plan
3.6.4 Hardship on the streets
3.6.5 I repent for being homeless
3.6.6 Being helpless
3.6.7 Struggling in the street
3.6.8 Lonely and angry
3.6.9 Darkness all around
3.6.10 Dreaming of better
3.7 REFLECTION ON THE STORIES
3.7.1 Possibilities of youth
3.7.2 Passion for change
3.7.3 Reflections on my role
3.8 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FOUR: DESCRIBING AND INTERPRETING THE STORIES USING A NARRATIVE APPROACH
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 METHODS OF LISTENING AND DESCRIBING
4.2.1 The role of listening in counselling
4.2.2 Entering the story world
4.2.3 Interviews
4.2.4 Questions
4.2.5 Scripting experiences
4.3 LISTENING FROM A POSITION OF NOT-KNOWING
4.3.1 Barriers to listening
4.3.2 The Street Centre setting
4.3.3 Position of knowledge
4.3.4 Position of ignorance
4.4 THE PROBLEM IN THE YOUTH’S OWN WORDS
4.4.1 Losing power in the streets
4.4.2 No options
4.4.3 Waiting for the future
4.4.4 Surviving in hardship
4.4.5 Needs guidance and assistance
4.4.6 Who will help me?
4.4.7 Finance matters
4.4.8 Hope of companionship
4.4.9 Seeing a little light ahead
4.4.10 One day, I will
4.5 METHODS OF FACILITATING
4.5.1 Cultural difference
4.5.2 Confusing identity
4.5.3 Towards a better understanding
4.5.4 Language and Facilitating
4.5.5 Feedback from the storytellers
4.6 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FIVE: DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCES CONTINUALLY INFORMED BY TRADITIONS OF INTERPRETATION
CHAPTER SIX: THICKENING STORIES THROUGH INTER DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS
CHAPTER SEVEN: ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATIONS POINTING BEYOND THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY