New manifesto aims to tackle homeless among elderly in Tshwane
A collaborative campaign launched at the University of Pretoria calls for urgent action to make homelessness among older people rare and short-lived.
A new citywide campaign to tackle homelessness among old people was officially launched on April 11 at the University of Pretoria’s Hatfield Campus.
The Manifesto to End Older Homelessness initiative targets older persons and was presented by the Unit for Street Homelessness, based at the university’s Centre for Faith and Community.
According to Unit for Street Homelessness spokesperson Remembrance Mokwena, the manifesto draws from the findings of the 2022 Tshwane Homeless Count, which recorded 230 individuals aged 55 and older living on the streets of the capital.
She said this excludes those in shelters such as Struben Street or Melgisedek.
With an estimated total of around 300 older homeless people in the city, Mokoena believes that ending homelessness for this group is both possible and urgent.
Mokoena said the manifesto is not about pretending that no one will ever experience homelessness again, but about ensuring that when it does happen, it is rare, brief, and not repeated, because there are systems in place to support and reintegrate people into society.
“One of the most striking findings of the Homeless Count was that over 70% of older people living on the streets had been homeless for between four to 10 years, indicating high levels of chronic homelessness.
“The report also revealed that 73% do not receive social grants, despite many being eligible.”
According to Mokoena, access to basic services is further hindered by the lack of official documentation, with only 65% holding identity documents.
The manifesto recommends a holistic, long-term approach that goes beyond just providing housing.
Mokoena said it calls for integrated support, including mental health services, access to grants, documentation assistance, and community-based care.
She added that they have a case study of co-ordinated interventions in Tshwane that shows individuals who have already been moved from the streets into stable living environments.
While the numbers may seem small, campaign leaders argue that this presents a rare opportunity for decisive action.
“The fact that there are only a few hundred older homeless people in Tshwane means we can do something about it now,” said Mokoena.
“This is a solvable problem if we work together.”
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