| People sleeping rough on the streets in Cape Town | People sleeping rough on the streets in Cape Town | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/SafeSpaceHeader.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div class="ExternalClass3ED71CC4D60645618BF4D4443BE58F1C"><p>Globally, people migrate to the streets for a number of reasons including unemployment, domestic problems, substance abuse, etc. </p></div> | <span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">About</h2></span>
<p>In Cape Town, we have over 6 600 people sleeping rough on our streets, according to the
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/education-and-research-materials/data-statistics-and-research/cape-town-census">Census 2022 Report</a>. <br></p>
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<i class="info caring"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>Did you know?</h4><p>
<b>A Caring City:</b> 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.</p></div></div></span>
<h4> As a Caring City, we have several measures to help rough sleepers.</h4><p>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. </p><p>To strengthen this approach, the city adopted the
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Strategy_to_Reduce_Rough_Sleeping.pdf" target="_blank">Strategy to Reduce Rough Sleeping</a>, built around three core pillars: </p><ul><li>Prevention – Early interventions to reduce the risk of people entering homelessness. </li><li>Intervention – Providing structured responses through the establishment of city-owned shelters with developmental services. </li><li>Collaboration – Working closely with communities, NGOs, and other government stakeholders for integrated solutions. </li></ul><h4>Services at a safe space include:</h4><ul><li>access to bed space</li><li>provision of two meals per day </li><li>access to an on-site social worker </li><li>access to substance abuse rehabilitation </li><li>assistance with reintegration into society </li><li>assistance with obtaining identity documents and social grants </li><li>assistance with personal development plans </li><li>access to short-term job opportunities through the
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/jobs-and-skills-development/youth-careers/find-an-opportunity-with-epwp">Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)</a></li></ul>
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<i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>we provide help</h4><p>Our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Community%2c%20Arts%20and%20Culture%20Development">Community, Arts and Culture Development Department</a> invests in providing health and social care for rough sleepers. We also support
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Homeless-Shelter-Database.pdf" target="_blank">shelters across Cape Town</a> and have expanded selected sites to increase bed capacity, ensuring that more people have access to a warm place to sleep, a hot meal, and a warm shower.</p></div></div></span>
<p>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.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">What can you do?</h2><ul><li>find the organisations in your area and support small projects that help people get off the streets; </li><li>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; </li><li>contact
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Homeless-Shelter-Database.pdf" target="_blank">shelters and NGOs</a> that are committed to working with people sleeping rough on the street and find out how you can help them; or</li><li>
<a href="https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html#" target="_blank">log a service request </a>to report people sleeping rough on the street.</li></ul>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Contact us</h2></span>
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<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Community%2c%20Arts%20and%20Culture%20Development">Community, Arts and Culture Development Department</a><br></h4><p>
<em>Email:
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<a href="mailto:communityartsandculturedevelopment@capetown.gov.za">communityartsandculturedevelopment@capetown.gov.za</a></em><br></p><p>
<em>Telephone:<br><a>0800 872 201</a></em></p> | | GP0|#d834845f-54fa-4637-99fd-11473c1a0707;L0|#0d834845f-54fa-4637-99fd-11473c1a0707|Street people in Cape Town;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#bf2075b6-81ed-4492-8b39-a1782a31cb01;GPP|#36dcb5fe-6bfc-4ae9-92d7-8bd08d1f6414;GPP|#af370586-9ba3-404a-9d6e-02066ca42752 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In Cape Town, we have over 6 000 people living on our streets. | 0 |
