Mobile showers were unveiled for homeless people in Johannesburg. Images: Supplied
Mobile showers for homeless people unveiled in Johannesburg
Homeless people in Johannesburg will now be able to enjoy warm showers after mobile showers were unveiled on Friday.
Mobile showers were unveiled for homeless people in Johannesburg. Images: Supplied
Mobile showers for homeless people were unveiled in Johannesburg on Friday.
HOMELESS PEOPLE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO ENJOY A HOT SHOWER
The Department of Social Development said the province will now provide mobile showers to ensure hygiene and health for homeless people.
“The Department is responding to the growing number of homeless people in the province by, among other things, linking them to our shelters, providing them with daily warm meals, family reunification, and various social work interventions.”
THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONDING TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
The mobile wash bus services will be located in parks, open areas, under bridges, and on streets where the homeless community often resides.
“Homelessness is one of our provincial priorities. And whilst we do much to reunify those on the streets with their families or place others within our shelters.
“Some refuse to leave the streets, and in this regard, we must have services readily available to them. In addition to providing them with the daily warm meals we provide, the wash buses will help us ensure their hygiene and health.
“Si ne crush no lova— as our Premier has indicated, our government is prioritising those who need government services the most. The poor and vulnerable amongst us,”
Hlophe said.
THE LAST CENSUS SHOWED 55 719 AT THE TIME OF COUNTING
The 2022 Census showed 55 719 homeless people in South Africa at the time of counting.
The statistics showed that 55,719 homeless people were present at the time of counting. Of that number, 39,052 were men, and 16,667 were women.
Furthermore the figures divide into the number of people living in shelters and the so-called “roofless” people – 44,512 people living on the streets, while only 11,207 lived in shelters.
GAUTENG RECORDED THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
Gauteng recorded the highest percentage of homeless people at 45.6% (25,384 people). Followed by the Western Cape at 17.5% (9,743 people), and KwaZulu-Natal at 13.9% (7,768 people). The Northern Cape and Mpumalanga recorded the lowest proportions, with 1.1% (588 people) and 2.3% (1,306 people) respectively.
The census counters found that the main reason for homelessness was either joblessness or income challenges, which affects 41.3% of the unhoused population.
MAIN REASON FOR HOMELESSNESS WAS EITHER JOBLESSNESS OR INCOME CHALLENGES
Drug and alcohol abuse was the second-most common cause, at 25%.
Arguments with family and friends rendered 17% of the population homeless. While parents’ deaths accounted for 8.8% and the inability to afford accommodation accounted for 7.9%.
