The City of Cape Town is amending its policy on street people, with the aim to streamline all interventions to help more people off the streets, and members of the public have been invited to have their say.

The draft strategy is set to replace the existing Street People policy, first introduced in 2013.

It is envisioned that it will enable the City to collaborate with more role-players, and broaden the scope of interventions for persons sleeping on the street.

The 2013 Street People policy guided the implementation and expansion of numerous programmes to assist persons sleeping and living on the street, including access to social services, reintegration, personal development plans and short term work opportunities; facilitating access to identity documents and social grants, as well as access to NGO-run shelters.

In addition, the City has supported the NGO sector through Grant-in-Aid funding, and in 2018, the Community, Arts & Culture Development Department (previously Social Development & Early Childhood Development) piloted its first Safe Space transitional shelter.

Since then, 800 bed spaces have been made available at four Safe Spaces, with more to come.

RELATED: 300-bed Safe Space homeless shelter approved for Green Point

The Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross says while a lot has been achieved, more needs to be done.

‘Rough sleeping is a complex issue that affects many major cities, and the situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the related economic impacts. This draft strategy is an opportunity for everyone to have their say and help us formulate a new blueprint that will alleviate the risks that make people vulnerable to rough sleeping.’

She says the draft strategy aims to guide all assistance and interventions, partnerships (including social development programmes) to people sleeping on the streets, in open spaces, vehicles and makeshift structures, as well as those living in temporary accommodation such as shelters, safe spaces or temporary accommodation of a similar nature.

A public participation process will run from today, 22 April until 22 May 2024.

Details will be available on the City’s webpage: Have your say (capetown.gov.za)

Written comments can also be sent to Public.Participation@capetown.gov.za

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