Shelters get winter aid from City

Four homeless shelters in Bellville and Kraaifontein and another in Elsies River will get winter aid from the City.

The Haven night shelters, in Kraaifontein and Bellville; Mould Empower Serve (MES) and the Tygerberg Association of Street People (TASP), in Bellville; and Elim Night Shelter, in Elsies River, are among 16 organisations that will get R700000 worth of food, blankets, mattresses and toiletries ahead of winter to cater for the growing numbers of street people expected to seek shelter from the cold. The shelters all have overnight facilities meeting City health and safety rules.

“We know that winter is an especially hard time for people living on the street, and we want to do what we can to assist organisations in providing street people with access to warm bedding, food, and toiletries,” said JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security; and social services.

Fire and Rescue will provide fire safety training to the shelters.

Mr Smith reiterated the City’s Give Responsibly Campaign, urging residents to donate to shelters and organisations instead of giving hand-outs directly to street people.

* If you want to help, contact City’s toll-free number at 0800 872 201.