It’s a grand, green, two-storey house with wooden floors. It looks like something out of a fairy tale, but unfortunately it is no fairy tale. SANCA Phoenix House in Martindale may be forced to close its doors if they are not able to raise the necessary funds.
The Phoenix House is a rehabilitation centre that helps people who are addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs. This centre has been open since 1970 and celebrated its 45th anniversary this year. Director of Phoenix House, Adrie Vermeulen explained that the centre gets 48 per cent of their annual funds from the Department of Social Development, but unfortunately this is not enough to cover the centre’s expenses. “The department can only subsidise five patients at R8 000 per person. This is not enough,” Vermeulen explained.
“It costs about R13 000 to take care of a patient for the three to six weeks that they are in our care.” The Phoenix House runs an in-patient care centre in the house, where patients stay while they have their therapy sessions. There is also a full-time nursing staff and a doctor to deal with withdrawal symptoms. After staying for three to six weeks, the patients have to take part in a one year after-care programme. “I think it is a huge achievement to say that about 70 per cent of patients complete this programme,” said Vermeulen.
Aside from the care centre, the Phoenix House is also involved in community services and provides rehabilitation to people not living in the house. “If we need to close, there would be a huge gap in this area. We are situated in an area where substance abuse is a very real problem. People come and knock on our door, looking for free help.” said a worried Vermeulen. Unfortunately, crime and substance abuse walk hand in hand. According to Vermeulen, every patient they help is one criminal they take off of the street. The Phoenix House already cannot pay a full salary to their staff for November. “People have a very wrong perception of substance abuse – people need to realise that its a disease like diabetes. Everyone knows someone that has struggled with substance abuse in one stage or another in their life.”
For any assistance or donations Adrie Vermeulen can be contacted on adrie.v@sanca-jhb.org.za or 011 673 0400.
