New CT Safe Space will help get people off the street permanently - Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis
The City of Cape Town has opened Ebenezer Safe Space 3 in Green Point to offer a place of safety for the homeless.
A group of Homeless people living on the Beitengracht street pavement were served with an order from the Western Cape High Court pending their eviction. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/ Eyewitness News
John Maytham speaks with Geordin Hill-Lewis, Cape Town Mayor.
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
Safe Space 3 has been opened amid concerns about the conditions at Safe space 1.
Occupants of the latter have been exposed to the elements amid the City’s harsh weather, and there are health concerns.
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The opening of the Ebenezer Safe Space will make 330 beds available, bringing the total number of beds at city run facilities up to 1050.
Those staying in this space will have a place to sleep, two hot meals a day, shower and bathroom facilities, private lockup spaces and a number of training programmes.
According to Hill-Lewis, there is also a nurse on site, addiction counselling and psychiatric counselling.
“It is a really wonderful facility for those trying to permanently get off the street.”
- Geordin Hill-Lewis, Cape Town Mayor
The mayor says upgrades will be made to Safe Space 1, which people have said is inadequate.
However, the mayor says he would rather focus on developing more safe spaces than putting that money into upgrading the ones that exist.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.