Melville has a fabulous new clothing store with high-end clothing at ridiculously low prices. The best bit though is that each purchase enables the store, U-turn, to help the homeless.
Established in Cape Town 25 years ago, they have just launched their first store in Johannesburg as they further their quest to sustainably help the homeless transition to lead fully independent lives.
U-turn is a registered Christian NGO that has developed a phased approach to helping men and women move off the streets.
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Lauren Graham-Parker who oversees their Johannesburg store and work readiness project said, “Our funding comes from a variety of sources but a large percentage comes from the selling of clothing. We have partnered with Truworths who supply us with end-of-range items that are brand new and are from clothing labels like Earth Addict, Hemisphere, Identity, Uzzi and many more.”
They also receive donations of clothing from the public which are grouped into four categories:
- A Grade – high-end brands which are sold exclusively online.
- B Grade – the likes of Truworths clothing which has never been worn and of high quality, or very good quality pre-loved and donated items.
- C Grade – items that are not able to be sold but are perfectly clean and decent which are donated to the homeless and linked organisations.
D Grade – unfit to be worn (torn, stained etc.) but are made into rags and used to make items that can either be sold or used as cleaning.
“No donation goes to waste, no matter what it is and everything is laundered if needed before it reaches the public,” said Graham-Parker.
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U-turn assists homeless men and women with access to support and care that is aimed at helping them migrate from sleeping rough into a life that is independent, sober and with employment.
This journey often takes between one to two years to complete and below are the four phases that have been developed for this:
- Foundation – General problems are addressed like drug and alcohol addiction, psychological counselling, becoming accountable for one’s actions and learning skills linked to becoming successfully employed.
- Growth – Counselling continues, skills are developed, job readiness programmes are entrenched, relationships with families are hopefully restored and other projects.
- Integration – Job placements are provided and participants continue learning to become productive members of society and holding down jobs.
- Graduation – Sober, employed and living independently.
ALSO READ: Removing the homeless from where they sleep is not a sustainable approach, or solution
The organisation has an 80% success rate of individuals migrating off the streets permanently.
If you would like to learn more about U-turn, visit www.homeless.org.za or pop into their new store at the corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue, Melville.
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