Applications open for winter aid

Security guard Jeremy Johnson, 40, died at the Durbanville police station after a robbery at a liquor store last week.

The City of Cape Town’s social services directorate has budgeted R700 000 in relief funding for charities helping the homeless this winter.

The City’s winter readiness programme is a response to the increased demand for shelter for street people during the cold winter months.

It aims to provide more mattress space at city shelters from May to September.

The organisations have to meet set criteria to qualify for the funding. The City said it had received 30 applications for the winter funding last year, with 19 of those meeting the qualifying criteria.

The City will post workers from the Expanded Public Works Programme at qualifying organisations to help with cooking, cleaning, making up food parcels and other tasks.

“The City’s ultimate aim for street people is to provide assistance of such a nature that’ll get street people off the street permanently. But, it’s a marathon and not a sprint and there are many challenges,” said JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security and social services.

“The reality is that the harsh winter months are around the corner and we have a duty to help provide relief to as many people as possible. One of the benefits of this programme is that it gets people into shelters and from there, anything is possible, including possible reintegration.”

To qualify for City aid, an organisation must:

Be registered as a NGO, NPO or PBO.

Have overnight facilities.

Comply with Population Certificate requirements and all health and safety regulations.

Agree to pre-approval site inspections.

Applicants will also be expected to provide copies of their constitution, latest annual general meeting minutes, annual report and external auditor’s report; the names of board members, office bearers and management and contact details, including the email address of a contact person for the grant.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday March 23. Application forms are available at http://tinyurl.com/hnv6h7z