With less than 1 000 beds at state-run homeless shelters in the city and many thousands who sleep rough, it is unclear at first glance why shelters are not overrun with queues at the gates.
One of the biggest reasons seems to be the high numbers of homeless people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Battling addiction is extremely difficult, but even more so for those who are homeless as access to information and resources needed to try and get treatment are scarce.
Dr David Bayever of South Africa’s Central Drug Authority says ‘at least 15% of South Africans have a drug problem’.
All shelters have rules, but for some, adhering to them is often a bigger burden than sleeping out in the cold.
The Northcliff Melville Times visited the Windsor West homeless shelter with Ward 98 councillor Beverly Jacobs to better understand what the facility offers homeless men in Region B. It is the only state shelter in the region and only caters to men. Citywide, the options for women are extremely limited.
The property was welcoming – all 30 beds were made and had ample blankets with a small lock-up locker available to keep the precious few belongings residents have safe.
The men present were friendly, clean, well dressed and getting ready for movie night, a weekly treat. The kitchen, bathrooms and living areas were clean and well kept.
Jacobs said, “My lived experience over the last six years when dealing with or visiting the shelter has been the same as today – clean, friendly and orderly.”
State shelters have social workers and processes to help addicts access drug rehabilitation centres, but the individual must first, of their own volution decide to enter the facility.
This is where the problem seemly lies according to Jacobs. “People have to want to change to make a difference to their situation, they need to take personal responsibility for their issues.”
Brian Thomson (47), an alcoholic who stayed at the shelter, is a success story. “I am a diabetic and an alcoholic who lost everything. The social workers, mobile clinic and staff helped me get my life back. From the shelter I entered a state rehab where I stayed for a year and have found a job, accommodation and even a car.”
“Being forced to stop using ‘cold turkey’ – be it alcohol or drugs – in order to go into a shelter is a terrifying thought for users, especially if they don’t know what to expect.”
Mary Gillett-de Klerk from the Johannesburg Homeless Network explained, “Those homeless with addictions find shelters unhelpful owing to their policies. We need fit-for-purpose shelters with skills programmes connected to them for the person when they are ready to best use such a facility.”
While the Windsor West shelter is doing all it can, within the parameters it is allowed to, more needs to be done by government and municipalities to attract addicts, especially those who are homeless into their facilities.
Gillett-de Klerk continued, “It is it is essential that overnight safe spaces are established all over Joburg as these are crucial first steps in the process of the homeless moving off the streets sustainably. At present there are no such safe spaces across the entire metro of Joburg.”
Related articles:
