ALONG with a myriad of logistical challenges involved in providing 1700 homeless people with temporary accommodation since lockdown, authorities are also trying to recognise and manage signs of withdrawal to help a number of the homeless who are addicted to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
DA caucus leader in eThekwini, Nicole Graham, said despite the fact that there had been varying successes in what was a very big operation to give shelter to the homeless in such as short period of time, the key problem has been drug dependency.
Graham said it was very difficult for addicts to wean themselves off heroin or opiates (which is what whoonga is), which has resulted in problems at many of the shelters.
“The Albert Park shelter has been particularly problematic which has led to people breaking away from the shelter and moving into the Dalton, Glenwood and Berea communities. Residents in Glenwood have reported an increase in fence hoppers. This has been something the DA has asked for alternative solutions to deal with, and I know it has been escalated to the highest levels of SAPS to attend to,” she said.
Graham said deputy mayor, Belinda Scott, and a few others from the private medical fraternity were working to get a medical detox going to assist with those who are in the shelters and want to stop using drugs.
She said the DA’s Martin Meyer, a social worker by profession, had offered to help from a social work perspective, to assist with this process.
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“We put out a call on social media for people who are prepared to assist. We have had a pretty good response, some from people from other provinces, but we now have a small group of people who will hopefully shortly start assisting with that process. It has definitely not been a perfect process by any means but I think the compassion and the kindness that many people have shown throughout, the many NGOs involved, and the many religious groups who have provided meals, has really been a positive sign of communities coming together in times of need,” she said.
Commenting on the problem, Denis Hurley Centre (DHC) director Raymond Perrier said a task team was in place to manage addiction withdrawal and to endeavour to find proactive solutions.
He said they had been assessing the situation in the camps and identifying individuals with particularly strong reactions to withdrawal.
“It became evident that the best way of supporting people with addictions is to have them together in one space. This way the specialist team of psychiatrists, medical support and counsellors can be based at one place to provide maximum ongoing support. Those suffering from withdrawal are receiving appropriate care and medical and psychological support,” he said, adding that on 2 April people were moved between sites.
Perrier said the DHC clinic was working closely with DUT Urban Futures and other volunteer experts assessing the needs of homeless substance-users as they go into withdrawal.
“The DHC will purchase and oversee the provision of withdrawal medication for use by its own team and by the City nurses to ensure the smooth running of the addiction-response programme.”
Covid-19 emergency appeal for funds
THE Denis Hurley Centre is working in partnership with We Are Durban and other NGOs to support the eThekwini Homeless Task Team’s response for Covid-19.
They are appealing for funds to help with the on-going support of the emergency camps and shelters in central Durban.
“Our target is R1.785 million or the equivalent of R50 per person per day for the 21 days of the lock down. The appeal is to provide funds for additional goods, services and support for the three-week period,” said Perrier.
Financial donations can be made to the Denis Hurley Centre: Bank: FNB, Account name: Denis Hurley Centre Trust, Account number 6220 4261 002, Branch code 22-21-26. Use the reference ‘COVID’ and your name.
If you do make a donation, email leanne@denishurleycentre.org so they know who has donated and for what focus area. If you wish to donate goods in kind, contact Leanne to discuss how and where.
If you want to know more about volunteering contact volunteer@wearedurban.com.
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