Homeless shelters full as snow, cold front hits
The management of MES shelters for the homeless says they have seen an increase in the number of people looking for shelter since the cold front hit Gauteng and other parts of the country.
This came as the province woke up to snowfall on Monday morning, heading into the coldest day so far this year.
Temperatures dropped to at least -6 degrees Celsius in the southern parts of Gauteng.
MES marketing manager, Franita Knudsen said they all their shelter are now full to capacity.
"During these cold evenings we make an extra space in any possible open spaces that we have we put mattresses and blankets for new people,” she says.
She adds that they now also have mobile units, in the form of busses in Johannesburg and Kempton Park that have showers and toilets to assist those in need.
"This winter really hit us very fast,” says Knudsen.
when they arrive, we give them something to eat and have a group discussion. When people come for the first time, we ask them to connect with our social worker, but on evenings like these, we immediately assist them with clothes, food and blankets"
MES has shelters in Hillbrow, Kempton Park, Gqeberha, and Cape Town.
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