​The advent of COVID-19 revealed some inadequacies in how government has previously responded to the challenges of homelessness as Municipalities and NPOs carried the responsibility of managing homelessness. As a response to COVID-19, the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) was mandated by the Gauteng Government EXCO to lead and develop a Comprehensive Plan on the management of Homelessness’s in the Province
Subsequently a Draft Gauteng City Region Strategy on Street Homelessness was developed which entailed funding to strengthen existing Municipality and NPO run shelters.

Using the comprehensive intervention of the GDSD to address the homeless problem as a case, at least from a policy perspective, indicates how social work practice can apply principles of Ubuntu to reinscribe homeless people’s rights. The notion of Ubuntu gives expression to deeply held African ideals of one’s personhood being rooted in one’s interconnectedness with others.

Social workers seeking to develop an African framework for decolonial social work practice turn repeatedly to Ubuntu for aid (Van Breda, 2019). The profession of social work is dedicated to the betterment of society and to the protection of marginalized and vulnerable groups and has been recognized for its importance in promoting access to human rights and social justice (Van Breda, 2019).

Thus, addressing the rights of the homeless aligns with notion of Ubuntu. To date, Provincial government allocated funding to provide and sustain service interventions to the homeless (shelter, food, sanitation, healthcare).

Shelters for the Homeless (Park Homes) were built in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng regions. A World Homeless Day was commemorated for the first time in the Department in October 2021 to highlight the plight of homeless people.

A multi-stakeholder service delivery blitz was held Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg Regions to drive service delivery interventions and the beneficiaries were vaccinated, assisted with ID applications, SASSA with social Relief of Distress, Developmental Centre’s showcased available skills programmes, amongst others.

In conclusion, the above interventions by GDSD helped promote access to human rights and social justice for the homeless. Therefore, social service professionals should continue to advocate for policies and programs that will meet emerging needs and will prepare society for the next pandemic that puts vulnerable lives at risk as this case of homeless programme shows.