City of Cape Town to assist NGOs as winter sweeps in

CAPE TOWN - With winter on our doorstep, the City of Cape Town has reaffirmed its commitment to assist non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that provide shelter for people living on the street.

It said its Winter Readiness Programme also allows shelters to apply for support like food parcels, toiletries, mattresses, and bedding.

READ: CoCT commits to providing R1.2m worth of goods, services to shelters to assist homeless

MMC for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham says, however, organisations must be registered as an NPO or a PBO (Public Benefit Organisation) to be eligible for the programme.  

She adds shelters like U-Turn Ministries, the Haven Night Shelter, and Mould Empower Serve (MES) are already part of its programme.  

"The city's safe spaces offer 1070 beds across the metro, and then we also partner with our NGOs like the Haven Night Shelters to offer additional beds. Haven Night shelter, as far as I'm aware, has just over 1400 beds, and we’re working with them to add additional beds over the winter months."