There is fresh hope for the homeless in Mamelodi and surrounding areas as an organisation that advocates for them announced its homeless shelter was ready for an intake of residents.
Thandanani Drop Inn Centre announced recently that the Thandanani East Home Project will soon take in the homeless.
The centre recently received much-needed donations to open and run a home for the homeless and drug addicts who are ready to change their lives.
Kate Kekana from the centre said they received donations of 20 beds, 20 lockers, three industrial irons, ironing boards, two industrial washing machines, two gas stoves, six 20-litre buckets of PVA paint, six rollers, and paint sticks.
“The donations were made as part of the continuation of Mandela Day,” said Kekana.
Thandanani East Home will house 120 homeless men, a housefather, security guards, a social worker, an auxiliary nurse and cleaners.
The home is situated in Mamelodi East, Ext 5 next to Ext 4 Community Park.
She said the home is funded by the Department of Social Development, but “we are calling on other co-operators to come on board to help run the home”.
The home offers a six-month in-and-out programme to help the homeless reunify with families and develop skills, work readiness, and learning opportunities.
She said first an addict must attend rehab and only then will they on their return be admitted to an in-and-out programme.
Kekana described Thananani East Home as a success as it has also managed to create job opportunities for Ext 4 and 5 residents, anti-drug ambassadors and volunteers at Thandanani Drop Inn Centre.
She said the construction of the centre started in May last year and was completed before July.
Kekana said a survey found that many homeless people around Mamelodi desperately needed help.
The survey also found more than 600 known hotspots for homelessness and drug addicts.
She said the centre launched a laundry service and opened showers, and bathrooms for the homeless to use at the centre two years ago.
The centre also launched a mobile laundry service taking the service to the homeless in identified hotspots such as the old Mamelodi hostel blocks.
“We assist the homeless and drug addicts with their psychosocial needs, provide them a meal, family reunification, and offer referrals to rehabilitation centres as well as help them apply for IDs and social grants,” she said.
She said the goal was to get the homeless to understand that the centre is there for them and cares for them by connecting them to service providers and helping them apply for unemployment social grants.
Anyone who wishes to donate to the new home can contact the Thandanani Drop Inn Centre at 078 157 2417.
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