People sleeping rough on the streets in Cape Town
Globally, people migrate to the streets for a number of reasons including unemployment, domestic problems, substance abuse, etc.
About
In Cape Town, we have over 6 600 people sleeping rough on our streets, according to the
Census 2022 Report.
Did you know?
A Caring City: Members of our Street People Programme Unit actively engage with individuals sleeping rough on the streets by visiting areas where they are most commonly found. They raise awareness about available services and assist individuals in accessing support, should they choose to do so.
As a Caring City, we have several measures to help rough sleepers.
The City continues to face a growing challenge related to homelessness and rough sleeping. In response, we have implemented multiple interventions to reduce rough sleeping, while promoting reintegration, dignity, and access to support services.
To strengthen this approach, the city adopted the
Strategy to Reduce Rough Sleeping, built around three core pillars:
- Prevention – Early interventions to reduce the risk of people entering homelessness.
- Intervention – Providing structured responses through the establishment of city-owned shelters with developmental services.
- Collaboration – Working closely with communities, NGOs, and other government stakeholders for integrated solutions.
Services at a safe space include:
- access to bed space
- provision of two meals per day
- access to an on-site social worker
- access to substance abuse rehabilitation
- assistance with reintegration into society
- assistance with obtaining identity documents and social grants
- assistance with personal development plans
- access to short-term job opportunities through the
Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
Through collaboration and partnerships with NGOs working in the sector, we ensure that our resources are effectively directed to support their efforts in assisting people sleeping rough on the streets.
What can you do?
- find the organisations in your area and support small projects that help people get off the streets;
- offer support and resources to organisations, which can help develop programmes to help effect long-term change in the life of a person sleeping rough;
- contact
shelters and NGOs that are committed to working with people sleeping rough on the street and find out how you can help them; or
-
log a service request to report people sleeping rough on the street.
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