Do not hand out money to the homeless, rather give them a voucher.
This was the message from U-turn Leila Suleman during Rondebosch City Improvement District’s (RCID) annual general meeting last Thursday at Micklefield School. U-turn is a Claremont based non-profit organisation that helps the homeless.
Ms Suleman said while people meant well and wanted to help, the kindest and most effective way to help was by giving a hand up and not a hand out.
She said a 2019 study on the cost of homelessness by them found that there were about 14 000 homeless people in Cape Town, adding that this number could have increased due to Covid-19 and its legacy.
U-turn’s MyChange voucher can be redeemed for a meal, access to ablution facilities, clothes, and a safe space at their facility in Claremont and MES facilities in Parow and Bellville, which also provides meals, a shower and safe space for the homeless. The booklet cost R50 with four vouchers.
U-turn graduate Cathy Achilles shared how she landed up homeless and eventually got back on her feet, with help from the organisation. After borrowing people money and struggling with her business, Ms Achilles found herself homeless a week before lockdown started in March 2020. With nowhere to go, she went from shelter to shelter but struggled to find a job.
“I eventually got a job at U-turn’s charity shop and was later promoted to receptionist and I am now a spokesperson for them. If anything, I want to drive home the message of giving responsibly. By buying a voucher, you are not only helping the homeless access food, and clothing but also providing access to the support services which can help them off the streets,” she said.
Speaking of the past financial year, RCID chairman Bruce Burmeister said they worked on fixing up and improving their camera surveillance camera network and hub, holding community meetings and meeting with new residents.
Petty crimes such as the theft of strollers and manhole covers remained a concern, he said. City green bins and the litter caused around them, as well as the lack of recycling facilities, and densification was also a concern.
“We need to take a stand against the densification of the area. We are not against it, but it has to be done within reason,” he said.
Mr Burmeister said the formalising of RCID to a City CID was an on-going conversation. He said they had previously put it to a vote, but the majority were not in favour of it.
“We have had many discussions around the formalising of this group and if and why we should and should not. This will be an issue we continue to discuss,” he said.
Other speakers at the meeting included Rondebosch acting station commander John Tayler who said the crime statistics for the area remained relatively low with only 96 crimes reported for the year in the RCID area.
He said this was only possible through partnerships but said with lockdown restrictions lifted there had been an increase in foot traffic in the area.
Ward councillor Katherine Christie said the theft and replacement of manhole covers was an issue she was aware of and was working on a faster turn-around time to resolve the issue.
“The City is in the process of replacing manhole covers with plastic ones but there is currently no stock. I am working to expedite the process,” she said.
