It’s with mixed emotions that I write this column about a document I released last week on World Homeless Day.
Entitled "A 10 year concept plan to end chronic homelessness in Cape Town", it was written over two years, borne of the frustration that after two and a half years of meetings and conferences and promises, we are nowhere nearer to achieving this goal.
Sure, there have been some changes, but most of these have been implemented under duress, under threat of more court actions and exposure to the previously absent voice of the homeless.
This very column has proudly contributed, as a constantly, loud and hopefully sensible voice for and of, the homeless.
But sadly, most of the changes have been more cosmetic than real.
The accommodation of the homeless which is crucial if we want to rid ourselves of chronic homelessness, remains in essence unchanged, with a few extra beds added and more budget having been afforded to the already existing and funded shelters.
I have heard some positive mumblings in the corridors of the 6th floor of the Podium building at the Civic when I have walked them and have even been impressed by real utterances in Mayco member, Patricia van Der Ross's office, but still, nothing has been effected.
And so, being the irritation that I am, I took it upon myself to hopefully get the ball rolling, in so far as putting a realistic plan with details and deadlines out there, for discussion and hopefully motivate some real activity and a change of focus.
We cannot keep on believing we are doing our best, when all we keep doing, is more of what we have been doing all along and doing so, unsuccessfully.
Just last week, in one of the country's most-read weekly magazines, a lady who had landed up in an abused woman's shelter in Cape Town wrote a most upsetting and seriously concerning letter to the editor about her experience.
It's really quite simple.
We can not disrespect people that become homeless, often through no fault of their own, to such a degree that all we think they deserve is what a shelter has to offer.
All shelters, even those with good reputations, and there are only a few of those, are meant to be emergency measures, temporary places, where people just coming into homelessness are accommodated for a short period before the individual/s can be placed in suitable, dignified places of accommodation that affords them the same chances and opportunities that we all feel we are entitled to.
A place where they are given agency and the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. and to this we need to add the offer of the services they might require, but again they are given the agency to decide which services they want to utilise and when they want to utilise them.
And there stay must be free of threat and fear of eviction.
My mixed emotions come in because although every one wants chronic homelessness to be addressed, it seems as if very few people actually take this huge task and responsibility seriously enough to realise, that we all have a very important role to play in advocating for and supporting those that are really and effectively making plans and effecting them to this end.
We cannot sit back and watch and allow current programs and projects that are already working towards achieving the end of chronic homelessness in Cape Town, which were started on shoe string budgets and a great deal of passion, and are constantly threatened with closure due to lack of funding and say and do nothing.
We all need to be well informed and contribute in whichever way we can.
Accommodation - a well funded and well developed homeless ladder of accommodation for the homeless, is the first of the five priorities I focus on, in the aforementioned 10 year concept plan to end chronic homelessness in Cape Town.
* Carlos Mesquita is a homeless rights activist.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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