As the cold and wet weather settles in, local welfare organisations working with the homeless are concerned about the lack of shelters in the Helderberg, particularly during the winter.
Suzie Pedro and Bevan Alloys of Turn Around 180, an organisation that helps the destitute and marginalised community, are determined to change the attitude of the community towards the homeless.
“Homelessness is not a crime,” Pedro stressed. “It is a sad state of affairs when these desperate individuals are just shoved and pushed in any direction, scoffed at and not given the opportunities to rebuild their lives.”
According to the organisation there could be up to 500 homeless people living around the Helderberg basin, which includes Strand, Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay and Sir Lowry’s Pass.
“There is only a temporary shelter, called Eagle Yard in Strand, which can only shelter between 25 to 40 individuals. It is only open during heavy rains or stormy weather,” Pedro related.
“When the weather is more favourable these homeless people have nowhere to go, are stigmatised by most communities and chased away. This is really a tragedy.”
According to Alloys the organisation has successfully reintegrated at least five people back into society and with their families in the past week alone.
Others have been assisted with obtaining identity documents, job seeking as well as rehabilitation. They work together with other organisations, such as Thomas House of Hope and the Somerset West Night Shelter, and also provide blankets, mattresses and food to those who need it most.
“It is necessary for there to be a safe space in our area where we can find them, engage and control them, and understand their needs,” Alloys said.
“We also have a good relationship with Law Enforcement, who work with us and often ask for our assistance. We collaborate to find ways in which we can best assist the homeless, but the problem of victimisation is ongoing.”
According Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement, operations to address the issue of homelessness and its associated problems are done rotationally.
“This is due to the sheer volume of cases with which the staff deals. All the cases cannot be addressed in one or even two days – it is done in cycles. The effects are mixed, because in some cases we successfully manage to reintegrate homeless people back into society by putting them back in touch with family, who then take them back in. We have assisted quite a few people in this way and, in some cases, have even provided transport to take them home,” he pointed out.
“We also introduce them to the safe space facilities. This is why these operations are joint operations so all aspects of the problem can be dealt with, as various departments are involved. Then there are cases where people just return to the same place after we have left the area.”
Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health, added the City’s Social Development & Early Childhood Development’s Enumeration Study in 2018-’19 confirmed Cape Town, Bellville and Mitchell’s Plain are the areas with the highest concentration of people living on the street.
She said although situated in hotspot areas, individuals from all areas have access to and are referred to the existing safe spaces.
“During the 2022-’23 financial year, the City will investigate the establishment of additional safe spaces,” Van der Ross said. “This will be informed by the availability of suitable land and/or buildings.”
Through council’s Winter Readiness Programme, it supports organisations to increase bed capacity, particularly during the harsh winter months, through the provision of mattresses, bedding, hygiene packs and dry food ingredients.
“The programme commenced at the end of May. Three organisations from Area East, of which the Helderberg is part, applied to participate in the programme, but did not meet the [necessary] fire and safety requirements. Individuals who are willing to accept social assistance are referred to the City’s existing safe spaces or shelters,” said Van der Ross.
She further added that the City created 858 employment opportunities for people living on the streets through its Expanded Public Works Programme in the 2021-’22 financial year.
“These projects provide an opportunity to earn an income and obtain useful skills, which enhances employability and ultimately reintegration. Teams engage people living on the street daily to offer social assistance. “
These services include, but are not limited to, referrals to shelters, reintegration into communities and reunification with families.
