Oudtshoorn Shelter for the Homeless launched by Minister Fritz

The Oudtshoorn Shelter for the Homeless was officially launched today in the town’s centre by Western Cape Social Development MEC, Albert Fritz.

The MEC was joined by Oudtshoorn Executive Mayor, Cllr. Colan Sylvester.

The shelter is one of a growing number of 24 registered and funded shelters for homeless people in the province.

All shelters are operated by NPO partners, and receive funding from the Department of Social Development (DSD) on an annual basis to render services to adults living on the streets. Shelter services fall under the DSD Families Programme, which has an annual budget of R47.6-million.

The Oudtshoorn Shelter will play a critical role in helping the Department and Municipality render critically needed interventions to the homeless, such as;

• social work assistance,

• family reintegration,

• And a referral pathway for substance abuse treatment.

The Oudtshoorn Shelter is currently a 10 bed facility, but will receive just over R250 000 per annum from DSD to provide for 20 bed spaces and a full-time Social Auxiliary Worker.

We are proud of our partnership with the Oudtshoorn Municipality, which greatly assisted in securing the building the shelter operates in. Our funded NPO partner, the George Night Shelter, further assisted by capacitating the start-up Oudtshoorn Shelter, and is rendering ongoing technical support.

DSD will be expanding shelter services this financial year with the establishment of 3 additional shelters.

Our effort is not only in growing the number of shelters, but also improving quality of service. In this regard, work is underway to fund a social work post at all funded shelters, and so far 19 out of 24 shelters have already appointed social workers.