Abstract
Background - The new increasing homeless lately consist of women, children, youth, the elderly and marginalized ethnic or migrant groups. Some of them are working and earn salaries, however, the income is not sufficient to live modestly. Purpose – The purpose of this research is to establish a desired support system to eradicate urban homelessness in the country. Design/methodology/approach – This is an exploratory descriptive method study which employed quantitative techniques. The study employed a social ecological model to investigate behavior of homeless via multiple levels of influences including intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and public policy. Surveys have been conducted on sixty-five homeless individuals. Findings – It was found that support systems and structures should be derived from the whole streams from families, communities, organizations and government. Employment opportunities, long-term shelters within the community places and highly demanded skills are needed to improve their living condition. Research limitations – This study is only focused on the socio-economic structures of the homeless in a capital city. Originality/value – This is an empirical research using a social ecological model for the homeless in the Kuala Lumpur area. Research on homeless study has received little attention and has yet to be fully explored.
Highlights
According to the Malaysian National Key Result Area (NKRA), every citizen should have access to necessities, including a home
The living conditions of the homeless people and surrounding environments may tarnish the image of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur
Homeless individuals can join Desa Bina Diri (DBD) voluntarily or by court order following the provisions of the Destitute Persons Act 1977.1
Summary
According to the Malaysian National Key Result Area (NKRA), every citizen should have access to necessities, including a home. Homeless people are often portrayed as causing inconvenience and annoyance to the public. The living conditions of the homeless people and surrounding environments may tarnish the image of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. It was reported that homeless people have not been fully accepted by the authorities and are perceived as a public nuisance.[1]. The welfare department, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) reported approximately 2,472 homeless people comprising 3,117 adults and 355 children. The Malaysian government has established the Desa Bina Diri (DBD) for homeless and impoverished people. The DBD offers protection, provides rehabilitation, and equips them with essential skills to be productive, independent, secure a job, and adapt to the community. Homeless individuals can join DBD voluntarily or by court order following the provisions of the Destitute Persons Act 1977.1
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