A New Hope: Streetscape's mission to house the homeless in Cape Town

The streets of Cape Town are believed to be home to 14000 people. For those in Streetscape’s reintegration pro-gramme, hope shines as the organisation raises funds to purchase seven City-owned properties in the CBD for apartments.

Over the past year, the non-profit organisation, via their programmes, have helped 209 homeless people get off the streets and into accommodation.

They have reached 3 500 people through daily outreach, with 150 in work readiness programmes and 30% of work graduates supported with formal employment. 

Fifty percent have graduated, having successfully completed the programme.

With this success, Streetscapes now hopes to buy the City-owned units in Harrington Street, which are expected to house those who are in the programmes.

They are working hard behind the scenes with crowd-finding projects to raise R2.5 million to purchase the properties and secure an additional R2 million for renovations and eco-friendly infrastructure, including solar power systems and water treatment and conservation systems.

Jesse Laitinen, Streetscapes founder and manager, said the vision was reintegration and for the project to grow.

“We integrate these systems into all our housing projects, reducing long-term utility costs and contributing to Cape Town’s environmental sustainability by lowering the ecological footprint of our buildings.”

She said they were now appealing for businesses and corporates to come on board, adding that they would be working with residents as soon as the discussion processes begins. 

“These units are right in the CBD,” Laitinen said. 

“We are working with the residents and there will be a public participation process.

“We are seeking a corporate sponsor.

“We need someone to see the value in this once off payment.

“The buildings need a lot of refurbishment and we would like companies and construction companies to come on board.

“If this goes well, it can open the doors for many NGOs.

“The seven buildings have two floors, four bedrooms, and we want to make them into apartments.

“Transitional houses where people will move from there and others to fill it again.”

In response to Streetscape’s plans, the City said no decision has been reached concerning the sale of the properties as yet, and they would not discuss the price tag.

“No decision has been made for these units to be sold to an NGO and therefore no details including that related to the sale price are available,” the City said.

“The City received an application from an NGO requesting to purchase City-owned properties in Harrington Street, which is still in the process of being assessed and considered.  

“As part of the consideration process, public participation will be undertaken and Council approval will need to be obtained. 

 “The City may consider selling at a discounted rate. 

"Council’s policy on the management of some of the City of Cape Town’s Immovable Property provides for social care properties to be sold at a purchase price of between 10% to 25% of fair market value, subject to a reversionary clause being registered against the title deed limiting the usage of the properties for social care purpose.”

According to Laitinen, Streetscapes has helped hundreds move from the streets into stability, through housing and daily structure, psychosocial support, and meaningful work.

The reintegration unit would make a difference for beneficiaries such as Jonathan Manuel, 38, who lived on the streets of Cape Town for 20 years and is desperate to have his younger brother join him in the programme and into a home.

Today, after seven months, Manuel is working and is inside a home (Streetscape programmes) and is determined to one day move into his own home and become independent.

He said he and his two siblings had humble and sad beginnings with their mother dying at a young age after working as a sex worker to support her family. They landed in foster care where they were abused by one of the families, which led him to the streets.

“I am staying inside a house now and there is a feeling of warmth in my family,” he told the Cape Argus.

“I will be very glad to get my own place. My baby brother is still living on the streets."

“I am trying to motivate him.

“I am very happy, Streetscapes opened my eyes.

“They showed me to work for your money, that street life isn't the way.

“I don't do drugs anymore. They are making big changes.”

Another is Clinton Hendricks, peer field worker at Streetscapes.

“I was homeless, moving between gangs, destroying myself with drugs, dug through bins for food and robbed tourists to feed my habit," said Hendricks. 

"Prison became a revolving door. Those years are lost to me now.

“When I found Streetscapes, I had lost touch with reality. Weekly counselling helped me rebuild. I learned how to communicate, grew more confident, and started to believe in myself."

Cape Argus