A new cashless voucher system for the homeless will be discussed at a community meeting in Fish Hoek, later this month.
According to Steven Underwood, the fund-raising officer at U-Turn, a non-profit organisation that helps the homeless, the meeting, at the Full Gospel Church, on Tuesday August 23, at 6pm, will address any questions the community has about the voucher system and efforts to help the homeless.
The Mi-Change vouchers were launched at all U-turn service centres in the far south on Thursday June 23. They can be redeemed for a meal, clothing, toiletries, a shower, blankets, or a safe place to sleep for the night (“Cashless way to help the homeless,” Echo, June 30).
U-turn had been using the voucher system for more than 10 years, but the concept was new to Fish Hoek, said Mr Underwood.
Marc Yates, chairman of the Business Improvement District (BID), and Johann Kikillus, founder of Soteria Ministries, will address the meeting.
U-Turn provides meals to the homeless from double-decker bus in a parking lot behind the Caltex petrol station in Fish Hoek. Mr Underwood said the organisation was using the bus temporarily while it sought a more suitable venue.
Daytime activities and feeding take place from Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and from 1pm on Tuesdays.
Lunches are provided by My Father’s House, a community food kitchen in Simon’s Town, and The Net, a non-profit that helps the homeless leave the streets, works with volunteers to provide food on weekends.
Carolyn Axmann, The Net’s founder, said breakfast was served at 9am on Saturdays and lunch at noon on Sundays in exchange for Mi-Change vouchers.
“As they (U-Turn) have 25 years of experience in this field, we decided to redirect our activities to the individual. Since we have fairly limited resources, we are focusing on key individual relationships with homeless people or those who have recently transitioned off the street.”
The Net had helped about 30 people get off the streets since 2020, she said.
In June last year, The Net received funding from the Department of Social Development for resources to assist with homelessness and a social worker.
Those helped by The Net had to contribute to their accommodation, make an effort to find work, meet regularly with a social worker and attend developmental workshops, Ms Axmann said.
Residents and businesses were reluctant to hire homeless or previously homeless people due the stigma associated with living on the street, she said.
“We do, however, have a number of success stories – individuals who have been given a chance and grown from strength to strength. In April, six of our clients were given work opportunities through Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).”
However, the programme only offered employment for three months after which the person had to be unemployed for a further three months before re-applying.
“This has left our clients in precarious positions, just as they were taking ownership of their roles and becoming dependant on a fixed income,” she said.
My Father’s House founder Pastor Shaddie Valayadum said they provided U-Turn with about 225 meals a week.
“If they need support we are there for them. We support each other. A burden shared is a burden halved,” he said.
Department of Social Development spokeswoman Esther Lewis said their funding for The Net and the U-Turn shelters subsidised bed spaces and a social worker post at the shelters.
Mi-Change vouchers are redeemable at service providers displaying a Mi-Change sign. In Fish Hoek, these are Chalk & Cheese, De Kock Estates, Wakefords, Collaborate Retail, Soap Suds Coin Laundry, AP Jones, Enana Trading and Peak Cafe. A pack of four vouchers costs R50, and R10 from each redeemed voucher goes to the service provider where it is redeemed. The vouchers can also be bought online at MiChange.org and delivered to you.
For more information about the community meeting, Call Mr Underwood at 082 766 8803.
