- The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Fund has contributed R4 million towards establishing a homeless shelter in Muizenberg, with an additional matching donation from a private donor.
- This new facility, operated by U-Turn, will offer transitional shelter and social interventions to help homeless individuals reintegrate into society.
- Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced that over R220 million is allocated for expanding safe space shelters across the city in the next three years.
A financial boost of R4 million from the City of Cape Town Mayoral Fund has set the ball rolling for a dignified shelter for the homeless in Muizenberg.
The new facility will offer transitional shelter and social interventions to help get the homeless off the streets.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says over R220 million is earmarked for the expansion of safe space shelters across the City in the next three years. “The imminent opening of our new 300-bed safe space in Green Point will increase the total beds to 1 070 across our five facilities in the CBD, Bellville and Durbanville areas,” he said. “Accepting social assistance to get off the streets is the best choice for dignity, health, and well-being.”
READ MORE | Residents reject proposed site for homeless safe space in Muizenberg
While the Fund will donate R4 million to make the Muizenberg Safe Space a reality, a private donor has undertaken to match the amount, which will enable the operation of the site for an initial three years with U-Turn, a not-for-profit organisation (NPO), at the helm.
U-Turn assists street people with skills and rehabilitation to overcome homelessness. The NPO works with a four-phase approach that allows homeless people to permanently come off the streets and change their lives.
Identifying, assessing
Questioned on the exact location for the Muizenberg safe space, the City commented: “The City of Cape Town is currently identifying and assessing a preferred site as well as developing the terms of a possible lease agreement for the erection and management of a safe space shelter in the Muizenberg area by an NPO.
“More details will be announced on completion of this exercise and the lease and any land-use requirements will be subject to public participation.”
The City added that the public participation process is dependent on land use planning application requirements and the conclusion of a lease agreement. “This does not have to be owned or managed by the City, which does not have the budget nor capacity to erect or manage all our shelters on offer.”
The City’s Safe Space model includes a dignified shelter, two meals per day, access to a social worker on-site, access to substance and alcohol abuse treatment, access to work placement, personal development planning and comfort and ablutions.
READ MORE | Homeless in Muizenberg roped in to ensure a ‘clean environment’
The new Muizenberg safe space is aimed at the homeless community from Simon’s Town to Muizenberg.
Mayco member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross shared that over 3 000 people are placed in the safe space shelters each year. “The City already helps around 3 500 people annually with shelter placement or referrals to an array of social services,” she said. “We look forward to expanding these services to help many more people off the streets in the broader Muizenberg area in partnership with the community and civil society.”
People’s Post approached U-turn for comment. At the time of going to print the NPO had not responded.
