On one recent overcast day in Northcliff, the displaced were treated not only to their accustomed soup kitchen meal, but the added luxury of an unexpected haircut. This was all in recognition of World Homeless Day that fell on October 10.
Tshepo Community Development Initiative hosted this event that saw them collaborate with Melville-based non-profit, U-turn, while volunteers of Windsor Community Support Services (WCSS) were on hand to help shear off the troubles they could.
General manager of the initiative Alet Geldenhuys said it was important for them to recognise the day. She said that usually, some people in affluent areas, such as Northcliff, tend to see homelessness or being displaced, as bringing a distaste to their community. “But I do feel if done right, communities can assist such people without them bringing negative attributes. I do think we can change the minds of residents to have them see there are different classes around us.”
It was this development initiative’s close relationship with various Linden-based churches that put them on U-turn’s radar. Its support manager, Lorna Wridway, said theirs was a natural relationship as it was based on a shared vision to expand their services specifically around homelessness. Many of the people U-turn assists come to them through service centres much like Tshepo.
U-turn’s charity store model aims to facilitate their work-readiness programme. “Guys who come to this programme work within the shop and have access to an occupational therapists and others who capacitate them to be able to eventually be independent and confident enough to venture back into society.”
Lindley April, U-turn’s area manager, described how they seek to fill a gap they saw as empty. Over the years, they identified the need for an exit strategy for the homeless. He shared that a lot of organisations have mastered the rehabilitation side very well, however, displaced people from disadvantaged communities often go back to the same places, which then breeds room to relapse and falling back into the same destructive behaviours.
“So with our work-readiness programme, we prepare people for the labour market, employment within this market, as well as work on the underlying causes of what led to their current disposition in the first place,” he said.
April thinks that Tshepo development centre has already been doing a great job in skilling people and that U-turn is just a way to further elevate them.
This was none more apparent than through the people like Stanley van Wyk, a homeless man who could not wait to gush on his appreciation for the development initiative, who, within the three months he has frequented there, helped him acquire an ID book. “It is a good thing they are doing here and I appreciate it a lot – along with the food they give us.”
To help make sure that people like Van Wyk can continue to take the positive steps that incite change into their lives, the initiative will now also house My Change Vouchers for community members like yourself to purchase at R50 for pack of four. What are these vouchers?
Well, they serve as a way for you to be the influence of change in a homeless person’s life, without giving them money. “There is a lot of goodwill to give to disadvantaged people, especially the homeless. Often the only thing people can offer is money and this becomes the fuel that keeps people in the cycle of addiction,” said April.
So this voucher, which aims to drive money out of the streets, acts a responsible way to give to the homeless or needy while it allows them access to basic-need services – shower, clothing, meals or toiletries. “Along with this they are afforded an opportunity to meet with a social worker and work on ways to get them off the streets.”
These vouchers, which were a collaborative effort between non-profit, Mould Empower and Serve (MES) and U-turn, will soon be rolled out into petrol stations that have the ‘my change’ signage for purchase.
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