The Haven night shelter in Kensington can now accommodate 200 people after the City of Cape Town spent R12 million on upgrades. The number of beds has increased from 80 to 200 – a rise of 150%.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis officially opened the expanded shelter alongside Francine Higham, mayoral committee member for community services and health. The City owns and maintains the facility, which is operated by Haven.
Upgrades to Haven night shelter in Kensington
The work also included expansion of the kitchen and bathrooms, flooring, painting and fire safety measures.
According to Hill-Lewis, the City has added approximately 640 beds to the shelter network during the current term of office, bringing the total to more than 1 300. This includes 340 beds at the new municipal Safe Space facilities in Greenpoint and Durbanville, as well as 300 from expansions at Haven shelters.
Similar work has been undertaken at other Haven facilities. In the city centre, the number of beds has increased from 96 to 156, while the City is financing an expansion in Retreat that will nearly triple capacity to around 300 beds.
R100 million to address homelessness
The City has allocated R100 million for the current financial year to address homelessness, according to the statement. Of this, R87 million is earmarked for operating its four Safe Space facilities, outreach work, winter support to non-governmental organisations' shelters and employment opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme.
Over the next three years, R62 million is planned for further expansions. This includes a new Safe Space in Kuils River, the redevelopment of the Paint City facility in Bellville and expansions at Haven shelters in Wynberg and District Six.
Higham says homelessness is a complex social challenge that requires more than a place to sleep. Support services at the facilities include meals, access to social workers, skills training, job search assistance and help with identity documents, family reunification and access to treatment for substance addiction.
Source: City of Cape Town
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
