Cape Town - An Observatory resident has started an urgent petition calling for the City to not discontinue the Public Employment Programme (PEP) addressing homelessness in the metro at the end of June.
The petition has been endorsed by the Observatory Civic Association and the Observatory Neighbourhood Watch.
Streetscape Khulisa partnered with 13 local NGOs to deliver a programme of work and support to street-based people.
According to the petition author Sarah Driver-Jowitt the programme started at the beginning of the year with close to 600 clients already participating in the initiative through partner organisations.
Driver-Jowitt said six months was not enough to enable meaningful change in the homeless people’s lives.
She also argued that if the programme was discontinued it would damage future initiatives and the stop in funding would leave vital and passionate organisations in a worse position than when they started and would push back the homeless people where they started- without work, dignity, and without a roof over their heads.
“We believe funds are available for projects like this to continue in Cape Town for 3 years, but there are capacity concerns within City departments with regards to the management and oversight of these types of projects.
“With the arrival of winter and bitterly cold and wet conditions on the streets, it is inconceivable that the City would want to expose this vulnerable population to such a risk – particularly since the City has stated its intent to address their needs through ‘socially sensitive’ approaches,” she said.
However, the City said the programme, which was established to address the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, is run by National Treasury.
The City said during 2020 the Economic Opportunities Directorate made an application to National Treasury for the awarding of funding to roll out the PEP to address homelessness on a growing scale.
It said the project was done in collaboration with NGO stakeholders to assist homeless individuals in a dignified approach through offering employment.
The City said a report indicated that 500 very vulnerable homeless individuals have been assisted in the first quarter of the project.
“In collaboration with the City’s solid waste directorate and EPWP branch, we commit ourselves to find a way of expanding the project in the new administration.
“The City will be meeting with stakeholders from National Treasury on June 2 to apply to continue the PEP project.
“We further aim to discuss the project scope and prospects of rolling over existing funding for immediate support to our clients,” it said.
The City said the ultimate goal was to help individuals off the streets and into a sustainable livelihood.
“Along with the employment programme and monitoring systems are put in place to promote the success rate of the programme. But more importantly, to ensure we assist those who are homeless in a meaningful way,” it said.