DefinePK

Abstract

Shelter homes are vital in combating homelessness by providing temporary accommodation and essential services, including food, healthcare, and, in certain instances, education and transportation. The government of Pakistan has initiated the "Panah Gah" programme to assist the homeless population in multiple cities. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Panah Gah initiative in Lahore, with a specific focus on service provision and resident satisfaction. Data were collected from 150 homeless individuals living in five major Panah Gahs situated at Data Darbar, Railway Station, Thokar Niaz Baig, Badami Bagh, and Lorri Adda. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire facilitated primary data collection, which was subsequently analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) through SPSS. The results indicate that shelter quality and service quality are significantly and positively correlated with resident satisfaction, with coefficients of 0.92 and 0.46, respectively. In the context of shelter quality, the staying experience emerged as a significant factor (0.42), while resident control did not demonstrate significance (0.04). For service quality, reliability (0.99) and responsibility (0.79) were key contributors. The study recommends more flexible entry timings, dedicated spaces for homeless women with female staff, and expansion of the program to other districts to enhance its overall effectiveness and reach.