Youth nearly half of metro’s homeless population

Almost 50% of the 4 117 homeless people counted during the Tshwane metro’s first-ever homeless census are aged between 25-34 years old, the metro confirmed.

Under the theme “Everyone Counted, Counts” the metro, the University of Pretoria, and the Tshwane homeless forum wrapped up their counts and surveys recently to determine the number of homeless people across the metro’s seven regions.

With the help of 395 volunteers, the parties were able to count 4 117 homeless people and survey 3 408 of them.

“Findings suggest that the homeless population are relatively young people with 48% of respondents being 34 years old and younger. In terms of gender, 87% were male and 13% female,” said MMC of community and social services, Peggy de Bruin.

“Feedback from the research will assist the city and relevant stakeholders to identify and map out strategic interventions and budgets which are aligned to the concentration of homeless across Tshwane,” De Bruin continued.

Project coordinator and deputy chair of the Tshwane homeless forum, Sam Moimane said the census helped in understanding which areas in the metro needed significant attention.

“It went well because now we have an idea of what we’re facing and are not just making up information.

“We also found that the majority of the homeless people through the regions migrate to where they can find services which is why we see such an influx in the inner city. For example, in Region 2, around Hammanskraal and those areas, there aren’t enough shelters where people can find refuge.

“The count will help the metro understand where services need to be allocated,” Moimane states.

According to the census, 31 respondents were under 18 years of age.

“Data received will also assist us to reflect critically on the current approaches and practices to measure impacts,” De Bruin continued.

The metro accredits the advice and endorsement from the Bloomberg Associates of New York City and the Institute of Global Homelessness from DePaul University in Chicago for the inspiration behind the count.

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“The city has committed itself to finding ways to end homelessness by forming part of a network of vanguard cities internationally, participating in the global network of the Institute of Global Homelessness Institute in Chicago.

“The network is used to learn and share good practices and implement lessons learnt to find ways to end homelessness,” De Bruin concluded.

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