Cape Town - Around a thousand people are living on the streets in the Helderberg region, which has alarmed the locals.
This was revealed by a local councillor after role-players met earlier this week following concerns over the large number of homeless people in the area.
Ward councillors, residents associations, crime fighters including Social Development MEC Jaco Londt and other figures convened to discuss the plight of the homeless in the area.
Somerset West ward councillor Norman McFarlane said the workshop was the first step in securing premises that could be used for safe spaces.
“It was to explore what needs to be done, a review of what the current status is with regard to homeless people in the Helderberg,” he said.
Many homeless people are believed to be living within the Gordon’s Bay surroundings.
According to the Gordon’s Bay Residents Association (GBRA), the matter won’t be an easy task, as there was no quick fix.
Association chairperson Edwina Hadfield said that the town used to have an assessment centre, which was run by Oasis.
“For the years that we had it, we had no vagrants or homeless on our streets, they were directed to the assessment centre.
“From there they were assessed, and sent home, given work and put onto programmes where there was drug or alcohol abuse, and it was the answer to our problems,” she explained.
GBRA said that obtaining a space for a safe house is much needed in their area.
During the workshop, details about Social Development’s efforts to assist the homeless were also presented.
It was discussed, according to MEC Londt, that local and provincial governments should collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that serve the homeless population to share resources.
He said: “We also discussed the need for clarity from the national government on which government sphere should take responsibility for homeless adults.”
The MEC called on the private and business sectors to show their support for registered non-governmental organisations that were struggling in these times of financial constraints.
Cape Argus