Resulting from the end of the National Treasury Presidential Employment Programme (PEP Project) the City through the Economic Growth Directorate has stepped in to provide bridging funding so that the project can continue for two more months.
Since January 2022, this collaborative effort has resulted in the NPO partners providing over 532 (426 workers and 106 supervisors) rehabilitative work opportunities for homeless individuals combined with psychosocial support, housing support and active referrals to other services.
‘By placing the emphasis of this outreach on sustainable livelihoods and providing the first step on the job readiness and employment opportunity ladder, we can make a difference. Already, many of the people being assisted through this project are being helped to leave the streets through permanent employment. This is another way that this City is using its resources to make the unemployment queue shorter,’ said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
‘There is no doubt the PEP funding has helped us not only create jobs, but change lives in the process. Assisting the homeless on all levels is a priority for the City and with the additional funding, we are able to restore some dignity to the lives of those living on the street,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
Apart from the social benefits, this project is immensely impactful as an employment generator.
‘Going forward, the Economic Growth Directorate, led by the Enterprise and Investment Department is also exploring ways in which we can use all of our programmes, like the Jobs Connect Programme, to register the workers onto the database to assist the beneficiaries to get permanent work opportunities.
‘We anticipate, subject to approval of grant funding by National Treasury, that this project will be housed within the Economic Growth work stream in future phases. The Enterprise and Investment Department will continue to work with Social Development and Early Childhood Development to ensure that the psychosocial interventions are of a high enough quality to make a difference,’ said Alderman Vos.