Borne out of a difference of opinion but a common challenge, the collaboration between local NGO Straatwerk and the Central City Improvement District continues to create employment opportunities for those living on the streets of the CBD – as many as 300 jobs a month. When Straatwerk hit a housing crisis in September this year, it was this longstanding relationship that saw them through.
Sometimes even the helper needs help. In September this year, Straatwerk – who joined forces with the CCID in 2004 to set up a job rehabilitation programme as a means to address issues of homelessness in the CBD – faced a crisis. The NGO was served a notice of eviction for their Hope Street premises, and had trouble finding another space at short notice, given that they rely on housing that is either subsidised or donated. They were effectively at risk of becoming homeless themselves.
Luckily – through a good working relationship with the CCID and the City – they managed to secure a City property, the Bo-Kaap Bath House, in the nick of time. The City of Cape Town's sport, recreation and amenities department facilitated the move to the building, which had been vacant since July 2012. “This is a symbolic solution – not only could Straatwerk move in to the Bath House immediately without affecting their ability to provide cleaning services to the CCID, but the City now also has a suitable tenant for a previously disused building,: says Councillor Tandeka Gqada, mayoral committee member for community services.
“Straatwerk nearly came to a stop and almost had to put their whole programme on hold,” says Tasso Evangelinos, COO of the CCID. “This would have been a disaster for everybody – especially for the guy on the street, who is earning his daily allowance, and suddenly there’s no shift because there are no premises to work from. It just goes to show that none of us can do our work alone and that we are all interdependent. That is why it is so important to consistently work on and maintain partnerships.”
Common challenge but different opinions
Interestingly enough, the collaboration between Straatwerk and the CCID was borne in some ways out of a difference of opinion around a common challenge. “Around 2004, Straatwerk was assisting informal parking attendants in the Central City when – through the work of the Cape Town Partnership, the CCID and City of Cape Town – the formal kerbside parking system was introduced. Up to that point we were at loggerheads about the presence of these informal persons in the city,” recalls Straatwerk project manager Hannes van der Merwe. “But collaboration was borne from this conflict when the CCID agreed to offer Straatwerk an alternative, an opportunity for people to earn a living. The idea was to offer people the opportunity to earn cash through cleaning shifts instead of engaging in aggressive begging or crime.”
The first small opportunity – to clean the Grand Parade at odd hours over the weekend when the City’s cleaning department wasn’t operational – has become a fully fledged programme of two daily cleaning shifts of four hours each for the entire CBD.
“The work gives people who have been on the streets, often for a long time, the chance to relearn the skills necessary to keep a job and function in society,” explains Hannes. “People have to choose to be here, they have to learn to work together in teams, and they regain some self-worth and dignity by doing an honest day’s work and earning payment for it.”
Employment and urban management
The beauty of the project is that it overcomes two hurdles with one collective leap. Not only does it afford people a means to contribute to the Central City economy – regardless of their age, ability, employment record or current living situation – but it has also become a cornerstone of the CCID’s Urban Management programme, helping ensure that the Central City stays clean 24/7. This in turn makes the project financially viable and allows Straatwerk to continue its social development work.
“If you look carefully at what Straatwerk’s projects achieve, you might notice that the rehabilitation it offers is not only to a certain section of the community who are seen by others to be in need of it. The rehabilitation it affects is in fact of the whole community. We strive to rehabilitate the interaction between all the members of society,” says Hannes. “Straatwerk provides an avenue through which each part of the community learns to employ its assets for the benefit of all. Nobody gets anything for free, but all benefit equally from each other. The challenge is there (and it is possible) to grow this model to the level where it makes a substantial and permanent impact on life in Cape Town.”
Do you need event cleaning?
The more work Straatwerk have, the more members of the community stand to benefit. So the next time you organise an event and need assistance cleaning up afterwards, consider calling them directly.
Straatwerk: Bo-Kaap Bath House, Cnr of Rose & Castle streets, www.straatwerk.org.za, 021 425 0140
This article first appeared in the November issue of City Views. Read it online.
Words: Alma Viviers
Photo: Lisa Burnell