The department of social services is currently working on an exit plan to ensure that all current homeless sheltered at the Benoni Town Hall are re-integrated with their families.
According to the Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, those with serious mental health conditions that cannot be managed within a community-based programme will be admitted to institutions for rehabilitation and treatment or prolonged institutionalisation, depending on their state of health and response to treatment.
“Those who are deemed elderly, the department is working on possible placement in old age homes and municipal retirement villages,” he said.
The Benoni Town Hall was identified as one of the four facilities within the metro to temporarily house the homeless during the national lockdown. On April 2, 120 were placed at the facility and the number of occupants have decreased to 57 since.
The mobile clinic has still been made available to those currently staying there and is ideally there from Monday to Friday.
“On days when the mobile clinic is not available due to work commitments, those who need medical attention are referred to surrounding clinics and Tambo Memorial Hospital,” Gadebe said.
He added that those suffering with substance abuse problems at the facility are being assisted by social workers from SANCA on an outpatient basis and some have been transferred to in-patient rehabilitation centres.
Social workers are constantly reminding those who seek shelter at the town hall to keep their distance when queuing for meals and during group activities.
“To ensure social distancing their beds have been spaced out at 1.5 meters,” Gadebe concluded.
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