‘Homeless for Christmas’ initiative seeks to get to the root of challenges homeless face
Carlos Mesquita writes that on Sunday, they went back to the streets with our annual ‘Homeless for Christmas 2024’ where the main purpose being to update the data collected during Everybody Counts.
The reality of human trafficking in South Africa
‘Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and it’s more common than most of us realize. It’s a hidden crime, meaning victims usually aren’t able or willing to come ...
South Africa needs a body which oversees and regulates NGOs
‘. . . The City, the province and their aligned NGOs would rather waste the money that the public either generously donates to these organisations or pays to the ...
We should all oppose amendments to City’s nuisance by-law
‘Whilst it’s true impact is that this by law amendment gives the City the right to evict without having to go to court to get an eviction order. This means taking ...
No simple solution to homelessness and addiction
‘Even without looking at the statistics, it’s easy to imagine the connection between people who are unhoused and those who struggle with substance use disorders. ...
The City has reneged on its promises to the homeless
The City of Cape Town has been aggressively clearing homeless encampments across the city since a High Court judgment granted the City a conditional order to evict ...
Only communities can address homelessness
COLUMN: Carlos Mesquita writes that the extent of homelessness in South Africa is extremely difficult to ascertain, and that this in turn points to our greatest ...
A journey from the streets to change
Carlos Mesquita writes that he has taken a moment to reflect on the past four years since leaving the streets as he marks his fourth anniversary as the Cape Argus’ ...
Politicians will never address homelessness
COLUMN: ‘This coming Thursday is World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day. It is highly significant that these two days fall on the same date, as it is crucial ...
Affordable housing doesn’t always stay affordable
‘The number of elderly individuals experiencing homelessness is rising. The number of elderly individuals experiencing sheltered homelessness nearly doubled from ...
Link between mental health issues and homelessness
OPINION: ‘The unfathomable psychological stress of not having a place to live can be unbearable, causing some homeless mental health patients to do drugs – but probably ...
Ignoring homeless people is anti-social behaviour
COLUMN: ‘We often complain about those living on the streets behaving in anti-social ways, but the mere fact that most people ignore people experiencing homelessness ...
When one thinks about homelessness, there’s a tendency to use broad strokes
We have internalised the often false preconceived ideas and myths that are often featured in the media or in political narratives.
Giving the homeless a chance to Restart
Part 2 of a two-part column on Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’ opening of a Safe Space for the homeless in Green Point recently.
Let’s re-design accommodation for the homeless
This is the first part of a two-part column responding to the opening of a new Safe Space by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis in Green Point.
City doesn’t care about the homeless, just PR
I am extremely angry this week. I am angry because I have spent the past two weeks trying to accommodate people living on the streets in dignified and sustainable ...
Helping homeless survive severe weather conditions
With a small group of donors, I have been accommodating those that the City has this past week, – during the most challenging weather conditions imaginable – been ...
Part Two: On the streets, tik helped me to stay awake
Last week, I started sharing with readers a more or less typical Thursday in my life as a homeless man when I had been homeless for about four years.
Part one: Taking you on a trip during my fourth year of homelessness
‘I am going to take you on a day trip with me during my fourth year of homelessness. I need to emphasise that not every day would be the same and my experience is ...
The Dignity Project: ‘Safe Spaces’
COLUMN: On June 18, 2024, High Court Acting Judge MJ Bishop, granted the the City of Cape Town the right to evict between 99 and 140 people living at seven sites ...