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Situating Practice within Diversity:Homelessness and Human Developmentin Bangladesh

Sub-theme: Interventions in Homelessness

Homelessness: A Global Perspective

International Conference, 9-13 J anuary 2006, New Delhi, India

Shayer Ghafur

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

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Argument

Homogenous representation of

homelessness in the public discourse isa constraint for intervention

In representation without differentiationEtiology and pathology of homelesspeople remain unrelated

Practice to be situated within diversity ofhomelessness

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Methodology

Review of published documents and

complementing them with mediareports

Critical Discourse Analysis providesthe methodological framework

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Structure

Homelessness in Bangladesh(prior understanding)

Homogenous Representation ofHomelessness

Review of practice

Implications of Homogenous

Representation Conclusions

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Homelessness in Bangladesh(prior understanding)

Diversity and similarityRoof-Root-Resource lessnessTypes: Floating homelessness

Situated homelessnessPotential homelessness

Home for human developmentAccess to home interferes homeless peoplesability to earn, learn, and live with good health

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Homogenous Representation of

Homelessness

Forms of homogenous representation

Slum dwellers (bastee-bashies)

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Missing Diversity

Age: Adult / Child Sex: Male /Female

Social Unit: Individual/household

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Reasons for homogenous

representation

Absence of a statutory definition

Absence of social distinctions

Operational conveniences

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Return Home (Ghore Phera) -

a review of practice

Return Home is a credit programme It identifies slum dwellers as rootless

people willing to return to villages It classified slum dwellers into 4 groups

1. Has homestead land, house and small land

2. Has homestead land and house, but no land

3. Has only homestead land

4. Has nothing

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Implications of

Homogenous Representation

Representing slum dwellers as homelesspeople is selective and segmental

Policy:physical perspective in policy formulation

Practice:

top-down intervention with sectoral goals

Political:

disempowerment of homeless people10/12

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Conclusions

Public discourse do not adopt the concept ofhomelessness to note its differentiation for

subsequent intervention

Situating practice within diversity is required

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Suggested Framework for

Future PracticeStructure Age

Homelessness(Floating Situated Potential)

Etiology Pathology(Causes) (Manifest Consequences)

Sex

Human

Development

Agency Practice Social unit

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