The City of Cape Town has reportedly increased their budget to assist the homeless of Cape Town. The COCT’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department will be spending just under R27 million on interventions for street people during this financial year.
This is a significant increase of around R4.5 million compared to the previous year, as the hope is to ensure that these interventions have a lasting impact on the street people of Cape Town.
The funding will be allocated towards the ” City’s three safe spaces,” which includes the winter readiness programme, support for shelters and ongoing awareness and education drives.
“In addition, the city will also facilitate employment opportunities for 934 street people through the expanded public works programme in this financial year, with the assistance of external shelter organisations,” the city said in a statement.
According to the City, in the last five years, the dedicated Reintegration Unit of Social Development & ECD has managed to place 1600 people in shelters. Additionally, 1550 vagrants have benefitted from EPWP work placements by City social development and ECD services, and over 575 street people have been reunited with family or friends.
Read More:
Potato prices increase steeply for South Africans
Picture: Unsplash