Housing Challenge Among People with Physical Disabilities in Urban Zimbabwe: Implications for Social Work Practice

Abstract

Zimbabwe’s protracted socio-economic depression has negatively affected social services provision. This is particularly in relation to housing provision for people with disabilities. Using a qualitative research approach through a case study design, the study argues that housing is a human right but the society continues to disable the vulnerable to access housing. The study unpacks the nature of experiences and vulnerabilities of the urban population by gazing at those in Bindura Urban. The research is premised on the social model of disability focused on persons with physical disabilities and professionals working for the welfare of people with disabilities. Availability sampling and purposive sampling were used to select primary participants and key informants, respectively from the targeted population. The study establishes that inaccessibility, affordability, discriminatory eviction and squatting and jeopardised amenities were challenges associated with adequacy of housing for people with disabilities in urban Bindura. From a human rights perspective, the study argues that urban dwellers with disabilities experience a vicious cycle of vulnerability as they try to access adequate housing. It implores social workers to adopt a holistic approach in addressing the housing circumstances of people with disabilities and lobby private and public housing providers to be disability sensitive and institute low-income earners housing schemes considerate of those disadvantaged populace.