Long term plan to house Tshwane’s homeless after Covid-19
Those working with the homeless in Tshwane have welcomed plans to rehouse those living in temporary shelters post the Covid-19 lockdown.
Thousands of people have been accommodated in various temporary facilities across the city since the start of lockdown in March but as it eases, the provincial government has promised this group of vulnerable people will be catered for as lockdown is eased.
The number of homeless was initially underestimated, and many resisted the tented accommodation provided and returned to makeshift homes in some of the city’s parks and open spaces.
The Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Dr Nomathembu Mokgethi, announced plans to implement a new strategy to deal with those who are without homes post-lockdown.
She said Gauteng was looking into sustainable long-term shelters for vagrants and others who had previously lived on the streets.
Representatives of various government departments have been visiting shelters to explore sustainable strategies for this group beyond the lockdown. This includes trying to reunite them with families and supporting NGOs in the sector.
For activist groups and NGOs at the forefront of the cause for years, Mokgethi’s promise is music to their ears.
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