Keep your petty cash in your pocket
JOBURG - "As long as people continue giving homeless people money they will stay on the street," said Alen Grobbler, manager of the displaced persons sub-unit in the City of Johannesburg.
Grobbler urged people to rather give to homeless shelters and charities.
“Our main mission is to encourage social upliftment, health and the well-being of people living and working in the streets,” said Grobbler.
“Many homeless people stay on the streets because they get quick money,” Grobbler added.
Kebonye Senna, a social worker working at the displaced persons sub-unit, explained that they followed a three-step approach namely registration, intake and assessment.
“It’s important to first identify why the people are on the streets to begin off with,” Senna said.
“Street life is about territories and it’s important to not place all homeless people under one hat. While some are involved in chemical substances and do crime, others are working individuals needing accommodation,” Senna said.
Karabo Manaka, operational manager at 3 Kotze Street night shelter for adults, said all homeless people are charged R8 to sleep for the night.
“Before anyone is referred to a shelter, an assessment is done to ensure they are placed in the right shelter. All those that stay at 3 Kotze Street night shelter are capable of generating an income, and if they can’t, then we will place them in a different shelter,” Manaka said.
Grobbler added that they would be targeting ‘hot spots’ in and around Johannesburg to try and get many homeless people out of the streets and into shelters.
“The aim is to get many homeless people leading independent lives,” said Grobbler.
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