A study on homelessness and government initiative to address homeless problems in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Noor Amira Syazwani Abd Rahman

Homelessness is a growing social problem in Malaysia, especially in urban areas. Recently, the issue of homelessness has gained a lot of attention from the media. This study focuses on this marginalized group who are often overlooked by the government. Hence, this study aims to explore the causes and consequences of the homeless in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Besides that, the study also explores government initiatives and the roles of non-governmental organizations in helping to address this problem. This qualitative study employs two methods of data collection, namely interviews and observation. Eleven homeless people in Kuala Lumpur had been interviewed in this study in order to explore their life experiences. The study found that the overall time they have been homeless varied greatly, and it ranged from 1 month to up to 8 years. The path that led to their homelessness most often includes family relationship difficulties and financial instability or low-income employment. Besides that, majority of the respondents agreed that the high standard of living in Kuala Lumpur, such as the rising and shortage of affordable housing has led them to homelessness. In addition, homelessness causes detrimental effects towards their health, society and country. It was observed that they have similar health problems, such as skin diseases and epilepsy-strength shakes while talking. Nevertheless, as human beings, they still need places to reside and sleep, as such, areas in front of shops and under bridges were among the common choices. These places are known to be unhygienic which may have caused them to suffer these health complications. It is hoped that this study would provide sufficient inputs to the policymakers in designing more effective and efficient programs to offer a better life for the homeless. This study would also contribute to the existing bodies of knowledge related to homelessness.