Former Beggar's Survival Strategy During Covid-19 Pandemic in Kampung Topeng, Malang City, Indonesia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought rapid change and adversely affected the economy. The vulnerable poor are among the most affected communities. Kampung Topeng is a portrait of economically vulnerable people. As a community-based social rehabilitation area for beggars, its implementation is from November 2016 to the present. The program was designated as a successful national empowerment pilot project because they turned beggars into no longer doing begging activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the direction of government social policy to focus on health. This reality changes the life activities of the beneficiaries. On the other hand, it is still economically dependent on the program. This condition certainly requires extraordinary effort, and a strategy is needed to meet the needs of family life. The results are based on in-depth interviews with 30 family heads. The survival strategies are by the informant's mindset about income in meeting the needs of family life. This strategy is also back grounded experience before occupying a social rehabilitation zone. The study's findings could provide a valuable basis for formulating the implementation of social services for the vulnerable poor, particularly beggars during pandemic times.