On an icy Joburg winter’s day, Musa Masongo walks the streets of Braamfontein looking for food in dustbins. He is originally from KwaZulu-Natal and came to Johannesburg two years ago with the hope of finding work.

“I have tried many times to find work but it’s difficult. Joburg doesn’t have jobs anymore,” said Masongo.

Over the next 10 years, the Gauteng Provincial Government is expecting an increase of people coming to the province as more people search for better work opportunities. The City of Johannesburg alone attracts about 15 000 people a month.

Some of those people like Masongo will end up living on the streets due to a limited amount of jobs.

Homelessness is a serious challenge in the City of Johannesburg and the municipality is working tirelessly to intervene and offer relief to the destitute.

The City’s Displaced Peoples Unit in the Department of Social Development has three homeless shelters. Kotze Street in Hillbrow has a 350-bed capacity. 1 Dan Street in Florida has a 60-bed capacity and Windsor West has a 40-bed capacity.

The homeless shelters are designed for people to sleep in at night. During the day occupants will go out and look for work. The shelter offers breakfast, lunch and supper. Each bed has blankets and occupants are given hygiene packs that include items such as soap, body lotion and roll-on.

“Before Covid-19, occupants would pay R8 for a bed, but now entrance is free because Covid-19 has made it difficult for people to find work,” said Moipone Zwane from the City’s Displaced People’s Unit.

The city’s shelters offer skills development programmes such as completing matric, typing, business admin, furniture manufacturing, security guard course and beautician courses. It is hoped that the skills will make displaced people more employable or in a position to be self-employed. The criteria to use the City’s shelter is that the displaced person should be between the ages of 18 to 49 years and be in good health. Those who do not meet the criteria such as children, the elderly, sick or frail individuals will be referred to other shelters or hospital.

Residents of the City of Johannesburg can contribute to the success of the shelters by donating food, clothing and hygiene stuff such as wash clothes, bath soap, roll-on and body lotion.  Items can be dropped off directly at any of the shelters.