THE City has secured a building in Greyville to house homeless women and children. This was announced by the City’s Security and Emergency Services Committee Chairperson and Deputy Mayor Fawzia Peer.

Councillor Peer was speaking at a two-day learning exchange on homelessness.

Councillor Peer said the City and its partners want to transform the Strollers building in Mansel Road, Greyville, into a shelter. Councillor Peer credited Nomusa Shembe, a Senior Manager at the Safer Cities Unit for the instrumental role and dedication she played in securing the building which is owned by the Department of Human Settlements.

“Among the homeless, we have females who are suffering. They go to shelters and are being abused. It is incumbent on us, as a municipality, to lead the way and do something. It has taken us a while to look at buildings and the Strollers building has been identified,” said Councillor Peer.

The City established a Homelessness Task Team in 2018 which is a partnership between various stakeholders who are working towards sustainable strategies to advance the needs of homeless people in the City.

Meanwhile, Acting Deputy City Manager of Corporate and Human Resources Dr Mpilo Ngubane announced that 25 homeless people have been given an opportunity to attend a three-month brick layering course. The recipients, who are also part of a brick layering training programme will be given work opportunities after completing the course.

Darul Ihsan Media Desk