Determinants of housing insecurity in urban and rural South Africa

Housing insecurity is a growing challenge in both developed and developing countries, affecting millions of urban residents who live under unstable and insecure housing conditions. While global initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focus on eradicating poverty, housing security remains an underexamined aspect within the framework of these goals. Specifically, goal 11 touches on the urban settlement but does not fully explore housing in all its facets. To address this gap, this study investigates the key factors driving housing insecurity, which profoundly affect households’ economic, social, and psychological well-being. Using primary data from 600 households from four types of areas in South Africa, a multinomial logistic regression model was employed to examine the determinants of housing insecurity. The findings reveal that rural and informal settlement residents are more vulnerable to housing insecurity, with Black female-headed households and unemployed individuals being particularly susceptible. Significant predictors of housing insecurity include geographic location, household size, and source of household income, among others. The study underscores the need for targeted government interventions, particularly in improving educational opportunities, addressing gender inequalities, and redistributing land.