The Somerset West Family Shelter is an indispensable function during harsh winters as it provides a secure and supportive environment for homeless families. It is unique in that it allows families to stay together in individual rooms, which has drawn in applications from as far as Johannesburg. The shelter offers skills enhancement programs, enabling residents to carve out new careers and regain control over their lives. However, long-term solutions to homelessness require the support of rehabilitation programs, and the City of Cape Town is taking proactive steps to address the issue.
As winter’s bone-chilling cold rears its head, one crucial issue gains prominence: the desperate demand for family shelters catering to the homeless. A standout among the limited examples of its kind in the country is the Somerset West Family Shelter, comfortably placed 45km from Cape Town city centre. This shelter is unique in that it offers families the opportunity to stay together in individual rooms, an uncommon provision that has drawn in applications from places as distant as Johannesburg.
As winter’s bone-chilling cold rears its head, one crucial issue gains prominence: the desperate demand for family shelters catering to the homeless. A standout among the limited examples of its kind in the country is the Somerset West Family Shelter, comfortably placed 45km from Cape Town city centre. This shelter is unique in that it offers families the opportunity to stay together in individual rooms, an uncommon provision that has drawn in applications from places as distant as Johannesburg.
The shelter is ingeniously situated within the framework of a repurposed school, with classrooms creatively converted into residential rooms. It maintains an engaging environment for children with a specially allocated play area. Among its inhabitants is Isolde Adams, a single mother of two teenagers, who found a place to call home after spending nine years at a different shelter. Her journey is a compelling testament to human resilience and strength.
Adams openly chronicles her path, from being homeless due to domestic violence and substance misuse, to her current life at the Somerset West Family Shelter. Not only does the shelter allow her to live with her children under the same roof, but it also enables her to fully embrace her role as a mother.
The shelter’s effective skills enhancement program has given Adams the chance to carve out a career as a barista at a coffee shop. The opportunity to learn new culinary skills, like baking brownies and using an air fryer, has aided her in regaining control over her life. Adams’s narrative embodies the inspiring potential of transformative shelters like Somerset West.
Wayne Spammer, the shelter’s general manager, recalls the inception of the family shelter during the intense COVID Level 5 lockdown in 2020. The goal was to house 100 people, a formidable task, particularly given the closure of stores and the inability to procure beds. Despite these obstacles, they succeeded in securing mattresses and blankets, demonstrating that determination pays off even in the most challenging circumstances.
Spammer highlights the shelter’s inclusive policy, which has sheltered single fathers with children over the years. He stresses the importance of implementing robust security measures due to the presence of children, which includes electric fences, surveillance cameras, and 24/7 security support.
Spammer tackles the stigma linked to homelessness, offering a sobering viewpoint that anyone could find themselves in such a predicament due to unforeseen circumstances. He narrates the story of a woman who once made a donation to the shelter, only to later become a resident herself after losing her business.
The Western Cape Social Development Department reveals that the 2022 Census recorded 9,743 homeless individuals in the Western Cape. At the time of the count, the province had 3,310 people residing in shelters. Esther Lewis, a representative from the same department, points out that homelessness is a complex issue that calls for the involvement of various stakeholders.
The requirement for emergency shelters, family shelters, and transitional housing intensifies during the cold winter months. Anelle Erasmus from Mould Empower Serve emphasizes the significance of family shelters in offering a secure and supportive environment for families affected by homelessness.
However, Valerie Govender from U-Turn Homeless Ministries cautions that shelters alone cannot be a long-term solution to the homelessness problem without the support of rehabilitation programs. U-Turn is actively working with the City of Cape Town to formulate a comprehensive, rehabilitating strategy that tackles the root causes of homelessness.
The City is also taking proactive steps to alleviate the issue of homelessness, having recently opened a new Safe Space in Durbanville for up to 40 individuals and planning to open a 300-bed Safe Space in Green Point.
In summary, the Somerset West Family Shelter is a prime example of the crucial role that family shelters can play in supporting and transforming the lives of homeless families. Their work underlines the pressing need for more such safe spaces that not only provide shelter but also aim to empower their inhabitants, assisting them in breaking free from the cycle of homelessness.
The Somerset West Family Shelter is a shelter that provides a secure and supportive environment for homeless families during harsh winters. It is unique in that it allows families to stay together in individual rooms, attracting applications from places as distant as Johannesburg.
The shelter offers skills enhancement programs that help residents carve out new careers and regain control over their lives. For example, the shelter’s skills enhancement program has given a resident the chance to carve out a career as a barista at a coffee shop.
The shelter is ingeniously situated within the framework of a repurposed school, with classrooms creatively converted into residential rooms. It maintains an engaging environment for children with a specially allocated play area.
One of the major obstacles faced by the shelter was the closure of stores and the inability to procure beds during the intense COVID Level 5 lockdown in 2020. Despite these obstacles, they succeeded in securing mattresses and blankets, demonstrating that determination pays off even in the most challenging circumstances.
The shelter tackles the stigma linked to homelessness, offering a sobering viewpoint that anyone could find themselves in such a predicament due to unforeseen circumstances.
Valerie Govender from U-Turn Homeless Ministries cautions that shelters alone cannot be a long-term solution to the homelessness problem without the support of rehabilitation programs. The City of Cape Town is taking proactive steps to alleviate the issue of homelessness by planning to open a 300-bed Safe Space in Green Point.
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