Contrary to popular belief, most homeless people are not lazy, drug addicts nor criminals. The homeless population includes workers whose wages are so low they cannot afford rent and other necessities, people with irregular income, people who have lost employment, and jobseekers.

Alleviating homelessness is possible, but requires a systematic multi-stakeholder partnership involving national and provincial governments, local authorities, NGOs, civil society organisations, the private sector, etc, to provide a chain of services to enable the homeless to sustainably exit the streets, and implement a national programme at provincial and local level which combines rapid employment creation and the provision of a range of services. 

Rapid employment creation includes the establishment of skills development centres and social enterprises i.e. self-sustaining businesses which generate income for homeless individuals. Provision of services includes the establishment and operating of soup kitchens, drop-in day centres, shelters with skills development programmes and transitional accommodation.

Sign this petition asking President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Social Development,  Ms Nokuzola Tolashe,  to expedite the drafting of the national policy on homelessness. The policy should cover the key roles of NGOs and civil society to address this growing problem.