NGOs that work with the homeless population in the Cape Town CBD are stretched “incredibly thin” due to an increase in the number of street people who are contracting the virus in the third Covid-19 wave, says Pat Eddy, manager of Social Development at the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID).
Eddy says the organisations have less money but are having to cope with increased demands on them, with a hike in unemployment creating an upsurge in destitute, hungry people seeking basic services, psychosocial support and rehabilitation services.
"There are also a lot more positive Covid-19 cases in homeless people with this wave. This has put huge pressure on NGOs, with expenses going up exponentially as they attempt to implement all the necessary Covid-19 protocols,” Eddy says.
To assist the CCID Social Development department’s six main partner NGOs at this time, the organisation recently launched its annual Show You Care initiative – Hope for the Homeless – which aims to raise R100 000 to support the CBD’s most vulnerable.
HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS
The Hope for the Homeless fundraising campaign, how in its 13th year, asks the public to support these NGOs through financial donations. Every amount – big or small – has the potential to change people’s lives. The six NGOs are Straatwerk, The Hope Exchange, Ons Plek, The Homestead, Youth Solutions Africa and Khulisa Social Solutions’ Streetscapes programme. Each one plays a pivotal role in providing upliftment to some of the city centre’s most vulnerable groups, including young people, women and chronic homeless individuals.
Says CCID CEO Tasso Evangelinos: “At the CCID we assist our six primary NGO partners with a range of interventions, especially during the cold winter months. But the pandemic has placed a huge strain on their resources, and there is a real need for public and private stakeholders to work together to find practical solutions to the problems. Donating to our Show You Care Hope for the Homeless campaign is an important start, and we urge members of the public, businesses and big corporates to help us to help our homeless community at this time.”
Eddy says the NGOs, which are struggling, appreciate every donation and put the money to good use. “Last year we raised over R85 000, which was divided equally amongst the organisations, and they were hugely grateful for the money. Streetscapes is using the funds to create additional stipends for people living on the street; The Homestead is launching new projects to support street children and YSA has upgraded one of their dormitories,” Eddy says.
TURNING LIVES AROUND
The NGOs all provide invaluable support to street people in downtown Cape Town, with the aim of helping them to move off the street and live a better life. The CCID supports many of their projects, which are often work-based rehabilitation programmes.
One of the most exciting projects is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which started in July and will be run by Khulisa StreetScapes in partnership with the City of Cape Town. The ground-breaking 12-month work rehabilitation project aims to uplift chronic homeless people in the Central City. The CCID has been involved in screening the 15 participants, who are extremely vulnerable individuals who have been on the streets for five years or more. One participant has been on the streets for 15 years.
Applauding the City’s initiative, Evangelinos says a collective strategy supported by all stakeholders is needed to help alleviate the plight of the destitute.
Says Eddy: “It is a challenging but very significant programme, and we are very appreciative that the City has provided the funds to sustain it for a year.
The CCID’s social and field workers are actively involved will provide support to the participants. The team is on the streets daily: in the last six months, they have interacted with 436 people living on the streets and placed 75 people in shelters in the CBD.
HELPING THE HOMELESS TO MOVE OFF THE STREETS
Like StreetScapes, the other five beneficiaries of the CCID’s Show You Care Hope for the Homeless campaign do amazing work to support vulnerable individuals, including those with substance abuse issues. Cape Town, like most major cities around the world, has seen an increase in opiate-dependent people. Eddy says, “People need to understand opiate-dependency is like an illness; it’s not something people choose.
“With the increase in substance use on our streets, we need to consider additional programmes that will result in helping the person change their behaviour and minimise its impact on our society and CBD.”
The six NGOs play a pivotal role. But they need support.
- Youth Solutions Africa: Offers multiple projects from a night shelter for the homeless and skills training for young people, to feeding schemes and early childhood development programmes.
- The Homestead: Provides outreach programmes for street children, including a drop-in centre, shelter, transitional residential care, and early intervention to keep at-risk young people off the streets.
- Khulisa Streetscapes: Offers integrated work-based rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for homeless people, with supported employment opportunities, housing and psychosocial support.
- Ons Plek: Supports girl street children and is the only residential child and youth care centre specialising in developmental and therapeutic intake services for girls who have lived, worked or begged on the city’s streets.
- Straatwerk: Assists the destitute with rehabilitation and work-based projects to empower them to earn an honest living.
- The Hope Exchange: Provides homeless adults and those at risk of being homeless with daily ablution, toilet and laundry facilities; nutritional meals; social work services; monthly healthcare wellness and screening clinics; life skills training; and interim accommodation. It’s also the site where the government has started vaccinating homeless individuals.
HOW TO DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN:
- SMS R10 to 38088
- Snapscan https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/STB0F588
- PayPal https://paypal.me/CCIDShowYouCare
- EFT to First National Bank, Adderley Street, Cape Town. Branch Code 201-409. Account Number 62524024065. Account Name: CCID Give Responsibly. Account Type: Current Account
IMAGES: CCID