Issues Around Homelessness

The 1BY1 Project is our Homeless Program that focus on restoring dignity amongst people living on the streets. Our mandate to identify a human need and to provide solutions to that need started more than 10 years ago. Determined to be highly creative, meticulous, strategic and progressive we maximize all our offerings to vulnerable communities.

We develop and pioneer strategic platforms like the HewLin Compassion- Educational Programs for Primary School leaners, Women Empowerment initiatives, Community Safety Initiatives, Food Relief Services, Health and Wellness programs.

Children living on the streets of Cape Town

The overall objectives of our program are the provision of a phased reintegration program through reactive activities at shelters and safe spaces, including but not limited to substance abuse intervention, soft skills training, vocational training and a process to support reintegration as per the exit strategy per individual resident.

Cape Town has a very high level of chronic homelessness – 50% compared to 5% - 25% in other countries. The longer someone is on the streets, the more costly and harder it is to help them to leave the streets long term. It is therefore a significant challenge that such large proportion of Cape Town’s homeless are chronic homeless. Urgent action is required to break this cycle. There is an estimated 14,357 street people in Cape Town, with 64 of that number coming from Ward 102.

What we do

• Establish a trust relationship with people living on the streets.

• Assist people to re-integrate back with family, rehabilitation, shelters or whichever alternative is available

• Conduct community awareness campaigns on how to give responsibly.

• Serve on forums addressing issues around homelessness.

• Follow up on people who committed to a life off the streets.

Re-integration: People need to be given the opportunity to make better and more informed decisions. They are then able to receive the assistance we offer. A life back with family, or specialised help through Rehab or Shelters.

Mediation: We very often find ourselves mediating or mending a broken relationship between parents and children. Children are not always accepted back home, and we strive to support that child as best as we can.

The youth bear the burden of unemployment. Programs such as the Passion Squad seek to provide our children and youth the opportunity to fight back against poverty and unemployment.