Life On The Streets (LOTS#) Alberton has collaborated with provincial social services and the Department of Social Department to facilitate the move of the homeless to two shelters for the duration of the country’s lockdown.
As members of the HELP Forum, comprising Amcare, Lions, Happy Hearts, councillors, numerous churches and other stakeholders, they partnered to help the homeless.
During this lockdown, where movement is restricted, these good Samaritans have gone all out to ensure the homeless are taken care of and fed.
Prior to moving the homeless to different shelters, they committed to minister to them and provide them with a meal.
They referred to this as ‘making fishers of men’ in accordance with the permit regulations of Regulation Gazette Number 11062 of March 25.
Initially, ministry outreach days were arranged for every day until the first shelter was made available for the Alberton homeless in Benoni and a bus arranged for April 2.
Eric McKechnie of LOTS# Alberton said: “The regular Thursday ministry drew between 80 and 120 people. So the crucial question was, how many of the street people would heed the call to support our president in flattening the viral infection curve?”
He said after being in talks with different stakeholders, they organised a facility and transport to get the homeless moved to shelters.
“Two collection points, Alberton North SAPS and Timber City, were identified, and true to their word LOTS# were out at 7.30am on the Thursday serving coffee, bread and biscuits to a substantial group of willing passengers from the police station and then onto Timber City,” said McKechnie.
He said when the bus arrived at the first collection point, some had changed their minds and others were rounded up by SAPS vehicles.
On the day, homeless people from Alberton boarded the bus which was then escorted to the shelter in Benoni by SAPS and the EMPD.
For the duration of the lockdown, the homeless will be taken care of medically and securely and receive three pre-packaged meals a day.
They will also be provided with clean toilets, hot and cold running water, new mattresses, blankets and toiletry bags.
“Showers, food supplies and toiletries weren’t there at the time. We were able to source ingredients through Amcare and locals who helped make soup which was transported to Benoni while operations were ramping up at the facility.
“We recently handed over toilet paper, among other things, to keep things running over the first weekend,” said McKechnie.
Still out there
He said they were then concerned about those who were not given the opportunity to get to a shelter and were still exposed to the virus.
“Soul food and physical food ministry was intensified to understand how many of the remaining street people could be moved to the shelter in Springs. On Sunday, we were notified that there were 30 beds available,” he said.
He told the RECORD that they then decided to get the message out that they would provide meals every day at KFC in Florentia until such time as all logistics were in place.
“About 33 people arrived on Sunday, with more than 50 people arriving on Monday. Unfortunately, many from the 2nd Avenue camp arrived only to pick up a meal. On Tuesday, the number dropped to 19 and LOTS# made a decision to hire a bus which arrived at 10am on Wednesday morning,” he said.
Food was then provided to only those going to the shelter, a total of 17 people in a 60-seater bus.
Unfortunately, McKechnie told the RECORD that seven people have since left the shelters for personal reasons.
“We told the second group to come on April 8 and the bus will then transport them to a shelter in Springs. We don’t want to entice people to stay on the streets, as the lockdown requires people to be off the streets,” he said.
McKechnie said some of the homeless people resisted going to the shelters because of addictions and fear of withdrawal symptoms.
Street life is difficult
Beertjie Meyer, one of the homeless, said he was grateful for the opportunity and was looking forward to going to a shelter.
“I’m happy and looking forward to going. I believe this is a new adventure. We’re more like a big family here. I wouldn’t have gone if I had to go alone.
“Since the lockdown started it has really been difficult on the streets because of this quietness. We’ve had to walk in faith, although a few good Samaritans have helped us with a few handouts,” said Meyer.
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