Cape Town has become the 18th city worldwide to join an elite network focused on getting people off the streets, after signing up to the Vanguard Cities programme this week.
The City of Cape Town signed a formal agreement with the Institute for Global Homelessness (IGH) during the National Homeless Conversation at City Hall – the first time this national event has been hosted in Cape Town.
The Vanguard Cities network, launched in 2017, brings together cities from around the world to share innovative solutions and best practices for reducing homelessness. Cape Town now joins major cities like Houston, London, and Sydney in this collaborative effort.
“Cape Town can play a leading role in shaping more compassionate responses to homelessness,” said Francine Higham, the City’s mayco member for community services and health, who signed the agreement alongside Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
What it means for Cape Town
As part of the programme, the City has committed to measuring homelessness annually across the metro and reporting back to the global network. Officials will also work with international experts to set specific goals for Cape Town and actively share local innovations with other member cities.
Importantly, the agreement requires the City to engage directly with people who have experienced homelessness, ensuring their voices are heard in developing solutions.
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Higham said the move builds on work the City has been doing since 2013 to help people get off the streets sustainably.
“Not only have we built partnerships with NGOs, but we’ve also invested in City services and Safe Spaces to make a meaningful difference,” she said.
Learning from global experience
The Vanguard programme focuses on supporting local expertise while fostering both community and international knowledge exchange. Cape Town officials will attend annual summits to learn from other cities’ successes and challenges.
“By joining this global network, we can share lessons from our experience of helping rough sleepers off the street, but also learn valuable lessons from other member cities,” Higham said.
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