2. Presentation Structure FINDINGS of the Baseline Survey of the Homeless in iTrump area undertaken in June 09 RECOMMENDATIONS based on the findings of the survey Preliminary conclusions of Buildings Assessment
3. Homeless Survey Introduction Baseline Survey commissioned by eThekwini Municipality in June 2009 - qualitative survey not census 360 homeless people in the ITRUMP area interviewed Survey undertaken over 14 days and nights which included 2 weekends Field teams comprised experienced field enumerators accompanied by selected people who had previously lived on the streets
4. Interview locations across iTrump area All known feeding schemes Per night shelter facilities Beachfront area from Blue Lagoon - uShaka Highlighted streets in the ITRUMP area Prominent churches Workshop + Post Office area in City centre Parks (including Albert Park)
19. SKILLS - are relatively high. While focus needs to continue on skills development and training, much more focus needs to given to recruitment and job linkage for this target group
20. CELL PHONES – the majority have no phones mainly due to lack of charging options and the cost of charging (it cost R5 to charge a cell on the street). The homeless unemployed need a physical location as a contact point to facilitate job linkage, because they are otherwise uncontactable
21. ABLUTIONS – findings indicate that majority of the homeless use the beach shower facilities. They need a place to clean up, wash clothes and look presentable (especially to improve employability)
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25. A place where the unemployed can work on improving their employability – through job readiness training, character and soft skills training, psycho-social support, counselling and social skills development
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27. A place where the unemployed can get easy access to information and assistance regarding all available services and programmes offered to them by Civil Society Organisations and Government (e.g. such as where they can access free dentistry and eye tests; current learnership information; information regarding Expanded Public Works Programme etc)
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29. A place where they have access to showers, toilets and laundry facilities (wash + iron) to increase their employment opportunities
32. The assistance to the employable homeless will highlight the minority in this target market who don’t want to work and intervention and rehabilitative action can be taken
35. WAY FORWARD The survey results indicate that the provision of a Job linkage Facility would have the greatest impact in terms of resolving the problems for this target community. The vision is for the significant reduction in the number of unemployed homeless, especially the youth (18-35), through the development of a ‘brick and mortar’ facility that genuinely grows people off the streets by providing a home base for job linkage . This has already been successfully happening in a ‘virtual’ space but could be much more effective on a larger scale in a physical location. This should be partnered with a transitional shelter and services facility in close proximity. The Architecture Department was asked by iTrump to assist with a feasibility study of the old Table Tennis Club Building and Strollers. This work has been undertaken in parallel to the Homeless Survey, and will be concluded with the presentation of a business plan. The preliminary findings of that study are presented here.
37. TWO POSSIBLE BUILDINGS AVAILABLE: Table Tennis Club Building (TTC) Strollers POSSIBLE SCENARIOS INVESTIGATED: TTC as Job Centre - IDEAL Strollers as Transitional Shelter - IDEAL TTC as Transitional Shelter – NOT FEASIBLE Strollers as Job Centre + Transitional Shelter – NOT IDEAL
38. BRIEF - JOB (OPPORTUNITES) CENTRE Business Hours Operation (8am – 5pm) Reception and Registration Info Area : notice boards, audio visual and live presentations, passive training and ‘info ambassadors’ Skills assessment (cubicles) Counselling and psycho-social support (cubicles) Wellness info area Large Training room Reception for Business BDO(Business Development Officers) off Satellite Bank Agencies Public sector services: Home Affairs, Labour, Health, Housing, SAPS
39. BRIEF – TRANSITIONAL SHELTER AND SERVICES CENTRE 24 Hours operation Reception and Registration Food outlet Showers and Toilets Laundry facilities (washing and ironing) Lockers and Storage Cell phone charging (free via solar) Short term accommodation (linked to Jobs database) Rooms and Emergency Shelter Covered area for feeding schemes Counselling and Psychosocial support Centre) Wellness Clinic (counselling/VCT) SAPS
41. SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS OF ASSESSMENT UNFEASIBLE SCENARIO The Table Tennis Club Building is not suitable as an emergency shelter, mainly because the building configuration is inappropriate – spaces and volumes are too deep. It would also be a waste of such a well located building to use it for a shelter. Although it would not be impossible to accommodate the Opportunities Centre at Strollers - it could be accommodated on the Ground and First floors, with shelter accommodation above, this is not ideal. The location is wrong, the image is wrong, and there are technical problems which would require massive re-modelling of the building to resolve. Having both facilities in the same building prolongs dependence and works against ‘graduation’. A large capital spend on a building that is a compromise does not make sense.
42. SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS OF ASSESSMENT (cont.) RECOMMENDED SCENARIO The Table Tennis Club Building is almost ideally configured for the Opportunities Centre, and although a large capital spend will be required, the bulk of that spend is will be for repair and refurbishment, which will be necessary for any future use of the building because it is in such a run down state. Strollers was purpose designed as transitional accommodation, and is thus ideally configured for the Shelter and Services Centre. Some minor alterations, and landscaping are required. The current financials of Strollers will need to be reviewed - the current rental at Strollers is completely unaffordable for this target market. (R63pn/R1800pm vs. average cost of inner city shelter being R10.12pn/R303.60pm)
43. SUMMARY SCOPE OF WORK: TABLE TENNIS CLUB BUILDING New roof including structure and ceilings New floor to ground floor, repair first floor Complete refurbishment of superstructure (walls, doors, windows). Comply with AMAFA requirements Strip out and replace all ablutions Re-plumb entire building Re-wire entire building – incl. allowance for networking New mezzanine floor New partitioning Landscaping Perimeter wall/fence and automated gates
44. SUMMARY SCOPE OF WORK: STROLLERS BUILDING Alterations to ground floor for Service Centre accommodation Security for ground floor New Screen walls and gates New covered ‘feeding scheme’ area Hard and soft landscaping New signage Re-paint whole building
45. CONTRAINTS TO GO AHEAD Approval for use of appropriate buildings? Budget for required capital works? Start-up operating capital? Operating budget – sustainability under investigation
46. SOME STRATEGIES TO ENSURE ONGOING SUSTAINABILITY CSI and Enterprise Development Spend via appropriate opportunity packaging – branding exposure and benefit of section 18a certificates for tax rebates Income generation via fees for access to Employee Database to the private sector Income generation via fees for Psychometric Testing (by skills assessors) to private sector Income generation via fees for Clearance and Accreditation Checks - Criminal, Credit and Educational to private sector Income generation via fee from school visits for career guidance and subject choice direction Income generation via sales of advertising space on the web-based Employee Database Rental from satellite Bank agencies Rental from Private Sector and Civil Society Organisation tenants
48. OPERATING BUDGET REQUIREMENTS RECOMMENDED REVIEW OF STROLLERS OPERATING BUDGET Current rental per night at Strollers = R 63,00, for a bed in a shared room (i.e. R1800/month). Access to storage or showers is extra (R4,00 per shower). No cooking facilities available. No meals offered. Current average rental per night at Inner City shelter = R10,12. Some shelters offer a meal for R 12 – R15 extra. Ablution facilities are often inadequate but are free. Current rental for an inner city social housing unit = approx R 750/month (for lowest end qualifying income group). This is usually for at least 2-3 people. Kitchen, laundry and bathroom facilities included. Water and electricity costs as per eThekwini tariff. Current rental for an inner city private rental unit = R1800 to R2400 If Strollers is to be developed as a shelter for the proposed target market, the rental will have to be brought in line with comparable accommodation. It is currently under-used, mainly because it is much too expensive for the target market. Note: proposals for the ‘re-development’ of Strollers will have to be work shopped with the Housing Dept. It is proposed that there is sufficient space to accommodate the required Opportunities Centre linked accommodation as well as other emergency shelter accommodation.
