City of Cape Town allocates R900 million to fast track housing projects<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCarlos Mesquita, founder of CM Homeless Consultant and Homeless Solutions, an organisation that aims to end homelessness, says even though the City\u2019s plans sound \u201cpositive\u201d he believes the City is \u201csetting people up for an even greater disappointment\u201d with the expectations it\u2019s creating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mesquita says: \u201cI have been homeless. I know both sides. My concern begins when the mayor says that they will be expanding on their \u2018transitional shelter beds\u2019. The City currently has no \u2018transitional\u2019 shelter beds. The City has entry-phase, emergency and temporary bed spaces both at the Safe Spaces as well as at the NGO-run operations and therein lies one of my greatest concerns.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mesquita believes homelessness can be solved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe that any city can end chronic homelessness. All it takes is the political will and an entire societal willingness and commitment to support and participate in this process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI also believe Cape Town to be the only city in the world that, should it stop the bus now and really and truly decide to address this issue in a revolutionary way, could pave the way for others to follow.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Durbanville, a 30-bed Safe Space in the new Durbanville Public Transport Interchange (PTI) development is in the pipeline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the City, both the Green Point and Durbanville proposals will now follow the full regulatory and planning process before being implemented. This will include a public participation process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says: \u201cOver the last year, we have shifted the City\u2019s policy to care interventions designed to help people off the streets on a sustainable basis. This is on the clear understanding that our city\u2019s public spaces serve important economic and community needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo person has the right to reserve a public space as exclusively theirs, while indefinitely refusing all offers of shelter and social assistance. Accepting social assistance to leave the streets is the best choice for dignity, health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hill-Lewis says more new beds will follow as the City works to help expand NGO-run shelters operating on municipal-owned land in central Cape Town, as well as the annual seasonal bed boost as part of the City\u2019s winter readiness campaign 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mesquita feels the City\u2019s budget used for the winter readiness campaign should be better utilised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUse that budget to do the first ever proper, reliable count of those living on the streets in Cape Town and do proper assessments of those individuals. They all have their own individual stories of how they landed up on the streets, their own unique journey on the streets and unique needs to come off the streets.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He adds: \u201cThese will only be accurate and of value if you allow those with lived experience to lead such a study. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith that data in hand, you can then determine the services required in order to have a lasting impact on reducing chronic homelessness in Cape Town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n