Social Development

With regard to the City of Cape Town’s revision of its policy concerning homeless persons, as referenced by her Department at the Standing Committee meeting on 18 March 2021:

QUESTION 1

Whether her Department is aware of the (a) factors that led the City to reconsider its current policy and (b) time frame for the finalisation of the policy; if so, what are the relevant details;

RESPONSE 

a)    The Department was informed by the City that it is revising the policy due to the rapid escalation of homelessness in the metro in the wake of the COVID-19 disaster. 
b)    The Department is not able to confirm the City’s final timeframes for the finalisation of the revised policy.

QUESTION 2    

In what way or ways does her Department currently collaborate with the City on an operational level in support of homeless persons;

RESPONSE

The Department co-ordinates and collaborates with the City through a Street People Task Team, which includes government departments and civil society representatives. Strategic and operational information is shared, for example, on the number of funded shelters, number of bed spaces and posts in shelters for homeless adults funded by the Province. When the City or Province need assistance to place a homeless person in a particular shelter for the night this is co-ordinated operationally between the two spheres, since both the City and Department fund shelters in different areas. Furthermore, the Province and City co-ordinate in order to assist with rehabilitation and reintegration of homeless adults.

QUESTION 3

Whether her Department has been consulted by the City during the revision of the aforementioned policy; if so, (a) what is the extent to which her Department is involved, particularly regarding her Department’s input, (b) what are the desired outcomes of the revised policy and (c) in what ways does the policy seeks to address the challenges facing homeless persons?

RESPONSE 

a)    The Department was afforded the opportunity to provide substantive inputs to the revised policy. 
b)    The Department is not in a position to speak on behalf of City of Cape Town’s desired outcomes.
c)    The Department is not in a position to speak on behalf of the City of Cape Town’s final policy position in regard to addressing the challenges facing homeless persons.