Residents’ association House of Hope to help rebuild families

The Avenues Residents Association (ARA), made up of residents from 1st to 14th avenues and 1st to 7th streets, have been spreading the message of love thy neighbour among each other for over 20 months – since the beginning of the pandemic.

This is what led them to officially launch the ARA House of Hope in Northmead on November 21.

The association was formed in conjunction with Super Cops to ensure the safety and security of the residents and businesses in the area.

Marinda Beukes, one of the residents who started the initiative, explained that the ARA House of Hope was an abandoned house being used by vagrants and they saw the need to put it to good use instead.

“We spoke to the owner who allowed us to lease the house for two years. The house will be used to give hope to those who are hopeless. Families will stay in the house until they can get back on their feet,” said Beukes.

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“We aim to build families. It is our Godly duty to care for someone else. While they are at the house, they will attend parenting classes, access to a psychiatrist and the children will get play therapy.”

A mother and her two children are currently residing in a flat on the property, while a reaction officer from Super Cops occupies the main house.

The house was been renovated by the ARA members and Super Cops employees over the past seven months through donations. Daily meals for the families will be provided by restaurants in the area.

Beukes said they have offered free courses to the mother to help her upskill herself.

“We will also assist her to get a driving licence and help her buy a car so she can move her family to wherever they need to be. Once she is back on her feet, she will leave the house so that another family can move in,” she said.

“The Greater Benoni Child Welfare assists us in identifying the families that need help.

“If the families are not from the area, we will try to establish them here because they need to be there for the next family, to teach them what they have learned.”

Beukes explained that renovating the first flat cost them about R10 000 to fix the electricity.

“There was nothing left in the house. The vagrants stole everything, even the toilet seats and door frames and they damaged the walls.

“We are working on the second flat and the driveway. We need someone who can sponsor us with a garden and any businesses that can assist us with about R5 000 monthly to take care of these families,” she said.

In the past few months, the ARA has managed to add the following services to residents welfare, youth, infrastructure, events, membership and a library, which will be situated at the Northmead Bowling Club.

Youth

They have also recently started a youth group to encourage the youngsters to help and be there for each other.

“As an EMS Chaplin, I took the youth to attend a course that will help them get a better understanding of why people use drugs, how to approach them, how to understand them and how to get them help. I am very proud of them as they all passed with flying colours,” Beukes said.

She added that through ARA, they want other residents of Benoni to learn that when a community stands together a lot can be achieved.

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“We have become a country of begging and blaming. That is not necessary because we are not disabled. We are talented and we need to use our talents to help our neighbours so they can, in turn, extend a helping hand to others,” she said.

The association will host the following events:

• An AGM on December 9 at the Northmead Bowling Club.

• Gift of Life (donating blood) at Northmead Bowling Club from 09:00 to 13:00 on December 11.

• Christmas carols, a picnic and Mother Christmas will be handing out gifts to the children on December 23.

The association hosted events last year and at the beginning of this year, such a Mother’s Day for elderly residents in the community.

To join ARA, residents are required to complete an application form and pay their yearly fee of R200 to assist with expenses.

Residents who would like to learn more about ARA are welcome to contact Beukes on 082 920 1548 or donate on its back-a-buddy page (www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/charne-de-gouveia).