Uncertainty hangs over shelters after level 5 lockdown ends
Perrier said the DHC had served as a residential shelter for up to 100 sick, disabled and elderly men during the lockdown but that it would soon return to its role as a daycare centre.
THE announcement by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala this week that eThekwini will in all probability move to level 4 under strict guidelines on Friday, 1 May, has raised a number of questions surrounding the relief aid currently being undertaken at shelters by various charities, non-profit organisations and municipal departments amongst Durban’s homeless community.
There was some speculations earlier this week that eThekwini would remain at level 5 as it is considered an epicentre of the virus in KZN.
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“When the decision is made to dismantle the emergency shelters, The Denis Hurley Centre itself will return to its non-residential role and we are exploring where and when to accommodate the 100 sick, elderly and disabled men who have been staying with us,” he said, adding that the 5-day-a-week feeding programme would re-open and anticipated there would be a greater demand than the 400 meals per day the centre was serving before lockdown.
“A second scenario is that eThekwini moves into level 4 but it is accepted that since the homeless have no home to go to, they still have no freedom to move around and cannot leave even for cigarettes and exercise. If they do, they cannot be re-admitted to the shelters. A third scenario is that level 4 comes into eThekwini but it is accepted that the homeless do have the same freedom to move around as other citizens, and can leave for cigarettes and exercise. That then creates a risk that they leave shelters, become infected and come back to the shelters and infect those who stayed inside and safe,” he said.
Perrier stressed the Municipality and Task Team were committed to continuing the work of supporting the homeless with food and shelter for as long as it helped protect people from the virus.
Perrier said the women’s shelter in Mansell Road was expected to continue operations and hoped that one or more of the campsites would continue to serve as a safe open sleeping space for those who needed it.
He continued that the specific initiatives which were in place like the drug withdrawal support programme would in all likelihood, continue in the form of a new day-care centre even after emergency residential shelters closed. Likewise, facilities are being sought for the elder and disabled homeless so that they were not forced back onto the streets.
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