Giving responsibly in the Cape Town Central City

Business Improvement Districts, or BIDs, were first established in Canada and the US in the 1960s and 70s. Since then, they have become popular mechanisms  in many cities throughout the world to ensure that business areas are safe, clean and well managed, by raising an additional levy from property owners (or, in the case of the UK, retailers) to provide supplementary services. BIDs are also often used to promote the downtown retail offering. In South Africa, we call them City Improvement Districts, or CIDs.

I am not aware of many BIDs/ CIDs that get involved directly in social development issues. The Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is fairly unique in the emphasis it places on social development. In addition to security, cleansing, urban management and communications, the CCID also has many projects, usually in partnership with non-government organisations and the public authorities, that focus on job creation, access to shelter and social services, and youth at risk. Every month, for example, over 200 people in the Central City work in urban management projects ranging from maintenance, graffiti removal and drain cleaning to recycling, street sweeping and pest control.

The CCID, along with many social sector NGOs, believes that it is difficult to offer support and assistance to unemployed and homeless people if they are permanently living on the streets. This is why the CCID promotes a Give Responsibly campaign. The message to the public is – give generously, but not in a way that perpetuates life on the streets for the poor. Rather, give directly to organisations that are working to find sustainable solutions to socio-economic problems.

Coming soon to a street corner near you. The CCID social development team will be on the streets for the next three months promoting the Give Responsibly campaign and raising awareness of the needs of homeless and unemployed people in the Central City