10 October is marked as World Homeless Day and people from over the world are encouraged to create awareness about the issues homeless people face and to find pathways out of homelessness. This event follows the Tshwane Homeless Summit, ‘Pathways out of Homelessness’, hosted on 25 and 26 May 2015.

The Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, requested the partner universities to review the existing Homelessness Policy for the City of Tshwane, and gave his full support for a collaborative research process. Research findings were presented during the Tshwane Homeless Summit to inform a recommended revised Policy on Street Homelessness in the City of Tshwane as well as a proposed Strategy on Street Homelessness. Homeless people, officials and politicians, civil society agencies and university researchers all participated and made their voices and proposals known.

Since the Tshwane Homeless Summit, a recommended reviewed policy and a new strategy for homelessness have been submitted to the City of Tshwane for consideration. It was endorsed by a range of civil society partners.

World Homeless Day has three aims:

• Firstly, to get the four partners – the Tshwane Homelessness Forum, University of Pretoria, University of South Africa and City of Tshwane – to enter into a social contract, to pave the way for institutionalising an active partnership to find pathways out of homelessness and to make the City of Tshwane a home for all.
• Secondly, to unveil the Recommended Policy and Strategy, indicating main priority areas and investment opportunities.
• Thirdly, to raise awareness about homelessness in the City of Tshwane and show solidarity with homeless people and the problems they face.

After the formal event at Unisa, there will be a peaceful awareness raising march to embody this shared commitment. The march will start at 14:00 at the United Nations Building on the corner of Francis Baard and Sisulu Streets and proceed Burgers Park.

A media briefing will be held during the main event at 12:30 on 10 October 2015.

Programme

Time: 10:00–12:30 (registration: 8:30–9:50)

Venue: Kgorong Building, UNISA Main Campus

March of Solidarity: 14:00 – Departing from UN Building, c/o Francis Baard and Sisulu Streets

Please contact Wayne Renkin for more information: [email protected] / 084 444 6132