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City responds to false claims of ‘dumping’ of street people <p>In the latest round of misinformation being spread by political agitators who continue to abuse the plight of the homeless for their own ends, the City of Cape Town can confirm the following:</p><p>The final homeless individuals at the Strandfontein Temporary Emergency Shelter were moved offsite yesterday afternoon, which signaled the formal decommissioning of the site. This after an order granted by the court supported the City’s efforts to assist the homeless with alternative shelter placement. It is unfortunate that it required further protracted proceedings initiated by the recently formed Homeless Action Committee. The court found in favour of the City as follows: </p><p>1. All close contacts of the COVID-19 positive individual linked to Strandfontein be offered accommodation at a quarantine facility until it is no longer required<br>2. The Homeless Action Committee be removed to the smaller prepared facilities until the Culemborg expansion is completed (which they are not obliged to accept)<br>3. The City will facilitate the transport of individuals from the smaller shelters to Culemborg upon its completion </p><p>Of the 461 persons who were left on site in the last week, 61 returned to the street; 31 have been placed in quarantine, 356 have been placed in alternative shelters and 13 have been reintegrated into their communities.</p><p>There have been numerous challenges with some of the occupants on site refusing to access the quarantine facilities that was prepared for them, notwithstanding the fact that provision had been made for all close contacts to be quarantined at an appropriate facility.</p><p>The remaining individuals at the site were to be screened daily, which included routine temperature checks. These efforts were once again prevented and obstructed by a number of individuals associated with the Homeless Action Committee.</p><p>All occupants were due to leave the site on 19 May 2020 and the City made the necessary arrangements. The group, however, refused to do so stating that their legal representative had instructed them to remain at the site. Upon informing their legal representative of this, the City was made aware that this was in fact not the case. This resulted in delays in transporting those identified as close contacts to the quarantine facility, which resulted in them having to be returned to the site that evening. </p><p>Yesterday, the group misled their legal representative by alleging that they were exposed to a positive patient at Melkbosstrand, when in fact there were no patients at the quarantine facility. Their legal representatives eventually withdrew from acting for the Homeless Action Committee.</p><p>Ongoing misinformation campaign driven by political agitators<br>The City will dispel any mischievous effort made by any politician, organisation as well as monitors appointed by the Human Rights Commission to vilify the efforts the City is undertaking to support our homeless community. </p><p>Our Street People Unit is integral to our holistic approach to assist this vulnerable community during these challenging times. We will continue to prepare the additional spaces across the city at existing shelters as well as to complete the expansion of the Culemborg safe space. </p><p>It is disingenuous of the opposition party to suggest that this is a victory for them when it is only a victory for the propagandists, who have used the homeless in their shameless attack on the city. In fact, the victory belongs to the city and the homeless whom we continue to serve, as the court has once again, like the case brought against the city by the Strandfontein Ratepayers Association, reaffirmed that the City has offered all necessary measures to ensure that they have access to appropriate shelter as was communicated to the homeless individuals at the temporary emergency accommodation since the opening of the facility. </p><p>With the ongoing attempts to misrepresent the situation and spread of misinformation, I urge the media to properly interrogate and fact check the claims being made by the ANC as well as monitors associated with the Human Rights Commission and their affiliated organisations, as failure to do so is an injustice to our residents who deserve the truth and should be able to trust what they are reading or hearing from the media.</p><p>Further, we object to all allegations that the City has dumped the homeless under a bridge in the CBD. The group of homeless individuals steadfastly refused accommodation at smaller shelters and opted to return to the CBD to be closer to the expanded Culemborg Safe Space. No provision has been made for them at this facility, as it is currently a construction site, which we hope to open in the next few days.</p><p>Until such time, our Street People Unit will engage with those camping outside this site to offer assistance to the smaller shelters that are ready to welcome them at the Haven Night Shelter, Oasis Reach for Your Dream, Ubuntu Circle of Courage, TASP and the Cape Flats YMCA.   </p><p>Closure of Strandfontein temporary shelter and alternative accommodation<br>The City welcomes the court ruling as it paved the way for the closure of the Strandfontein site</p><p>The Level 4 lockdown regulations removes the authority of the state to evacuate a homeless person from any place to a shelter as a necessary precaution to preserve life. This goes to say that if a homeless person chooses not to access a shelter, the City cannot place an individual in a shelter without their consent.</p><p>We have managed to redirect a number of people to alternative shelters already. These individuals have indicated that they would like continued care and assistance in a shelter environment. At the end of May, the City will reopen the initial temporary shelter at Culemborg in the CBD, next to our Safe Space, where the last group of Strandfontein occupants will be accommodated, in line with the court ruling. Those wishing to access the smaller shelters will still be assisted to do so. </p><p>The City appeals to all residents and organisations to give dignity to our homeless community by giving responsibly. In the process of giving food, clothing and money, remember the established shelter and relief organisations that offer support and safety to our homeless community during this period. Please rather take feeding projects or dry ingredients to existing shelters or organisations that help our homeless, instead of giving indiscriminately to homeless individuals on streets and by so doing preventing them from accessing more sustainable and meaningful forms of assistance and shelter.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p>2020-05-21T22:00:00ZGP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891dGP0|#e8551c6e-d07b-410f-82d7-c7015c240416;L0|#0e8551c6e-d07b-410f-82d7-c7015c240416|Homeless;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#2a5efaf1-c8d4-42be-8809-9638cebaefd5;L0|#02a5efaf1-c8d4-42be-8809-9638cebaefd5|shelter1

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