The National Homeless Network on 24 March asked the President to ensure that homeless people are included in the response plan dealing with Covid-19.
They were pleased that President Cyril Ramaphosa said that ‘temporary shelters that meet the necessary hygiene standards will be identified for homeless people’ for the period of the 21-day lockdown.
The organisation was concerned about how that would be achieved practically within the 72 hours that followed, before the lockdown began.
The members of the National Homeless Network were keen to provide their expertise in advice and assistance in any way they could.
To this end, as part of the essential planning process, these questions were proposed by the organisation:
- Who will lead the setting-up and running of temporary accommodation for homeless people, nationally, provincially and locally?
- How will local forums and NGOs already working with homeless people be engaged in this process?
- How will their existing expertise be utilised?
- How will the buildings for temporary accommodation be identified? Who will prepare them for use?
- How will the number of spaces to be provided be decided?
- Who will manage the temporary accommodation for the homeless during the lock-down?
- How will food, support and security services be provided?
- Are those who are providing services to homeless people counted as essential personnel during the current lockdown?
- Will they be allowed to continue providing services?
- How will the setting-up and running of the temporary accommodation be funded?
- Will the homeless be forced to go into the identified buildings?
- What happens if they refuse?
- How will the shelters accommodate someone who becomes sick (whether of Covid-19 or something else)?
- Given that a good number of homeless people are substance users and will, therefore, suffer from forced withdrawal, what measures can be taken to help them?
- How are homeless people going to be informed about the lockdown and that temporary accommodation is available?
Secretary of the National Homeless Network Wayne Renkin confirmed that they await the response from government, however, they are pleased with the engagement which has taken place at different levels in Tswane, Durban and Cape Town.
Related Article:
