Thirty homeless individuals were transported from Cape Town to the Haven Night Shelter in Paarl this month, which has caused a rise in the local homeless population, the Drakenstein Municipality confirmed.
Homelessness continues to be an issue in the municipal area of Paarl, which has seen several makeshift structures sprang up along the banks of the Berg River, as reported by the Paarl Post via News24.
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The structures have been a ‘talking point among residents and businesses’ in the area in terms of the associated consequences, that include the management of waste and possible pollution of the Berg River.
‘In addition, special operations are executed weekly between the Paarl police, the municipality’s Law Enforcement and Solid Waste Management divisions, the Municipality’s Social Development section, as well as Shoprite,’ said Eda Barnard, executive director for Public Safety.
‘During these operations, structures are removed, homeless individuals are removed, and the areas are cleaned. However, we find that these individuals often return to the same area. We are therefore seeking more humane alternatives and not to simply remove them and the little belongings they might have,’ Barnard added.
Barnard has also stated that despite the recent influx in homeless individuals, the municipality continues to ‘effectively manage the issue’.
‘While the municipality is acutely aware of the increasing number of homeless individuals on our streets, we are not at a point where we can say Drakenstein is facing a crisis in terms of the impact they have on the environment, or of managing them,’ said Barnard.
Drakenstein’s Social Development Department has been given the task to engage with its provincial counterparts to collaborate and develop effective strategies that aim to support these individuals and mitigate the factors that contribute to homelessness, according to Barnard.
‘In addition, the municipality is currently in the third phase of developing an overnight night shelter in Paarl. This shelter is part of our comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in our community,’ said Barnard.
‘The new overnight night shelter is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for the homeless, offering not just a place to sleep, but also access to essential services that can help individuals transition to more stable living conditions,’ Barnard added.
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