OBSID - Social development needs more Obs support

Kenneth Roman, the Observatory Improvement District ‘s (OBSID) field worker, provides a range of services and support for homeless people in Obs, as part of the OBSID’s social development program.

His office at the Obs train station acts as a first point of call for any homeless people who need assistance.

Kenneth’s regular tasks include screening and capturing the details of the homeless population in the area, and those who travel through.

He assists people with getting into shelters, rehabilitation programs, identity document applications and any other support they may need.

He said that assisting homeless people requires good follow up processes to ensure that they don’t end up on the street again.

These follow up processes include supporting the individual in re-kindling a relationship with people close to them, assisting with social grant applications and introducing them to job opportunities, such as the OBSID’s job shadowing program, which has already assisted 17 people find employment since it started last year.

Kenneth said that while the OBSID tries their best to assist the homeless and other people in need, the support of Obs residents is a great factor in their programs’ success rate.

One way residents can help the OBSID’s social development efforts is by providing a detailed report on any homeless person they think could benefit from Kenneth’s support.

When reporting an individual to the Kenneth, provide a detailed description of the situation.

Information like where the person is seen, age estimate, gender and possibly a name is valuable.

Having worked for the Haven, one of Cape Town’s most well known shelters, Kenneth has built strong partnerships with many organisations and shelters in the city.

He said if someone wants help getting off the street, they would definitely be assisted.

Contact Kenneth at obsfieldworker@gmail.com for more information on the OBSID’s social development services and programs.