Life on the street is extremely tough and the hardships deepen in the harsh, unforgiving winter. This is when the Social Development department of the CCID rolls out its Winter Readiness Programme, aimed at implementing practical ways to ease the plight of the homeless community living in the CBD.
Pat Eddy, manager of CCID Social Development, says the homeless not only have to endure rain and plummeting temperatures, they also have to contend with illness which is more prevalent at this time of year.
“The health of people living on the streets is much more precarious during winter and it is a big concern,” says Pat. “There is an increase in the number of people dying on the streets due to illness as the homeless do not have easy access to medication and often don’t have meals that are nutritious.”
The Winter Readiness Programme includes the following:
- Funding winter space at partner NGO Youth Solutions Africa, providing a total of 40 spaces (30 for men and 10 for women), in addition to the 18 already provided, plus two meals per day. The programme runs for three months.
- Donating basic foodstuffs (including oats, noodles, rusks and cup-of-soup) for three months to the Safe Space at Culemborg, where residents currently get a hot beverage but no meals.
- Increasing the amount of CCID “care bags” – which contain basic toiletries such as a toothbrush, soap, deodorant, razor, comb as well as a beanie, socks and a packet of sweets – by 1 000 bags to 2 500 to donate to Safe Space and the CCID’s other NGO partners.
- Donating 550 pairs of shoes (350 for men and 200 for women) to Safe Space and the CCID’s partner NGOs.
- Providing 31 pairs of safety boots to the Streetscapes garden programme of the CCID’s partner NGO, Khulisa Social Solutions, for work in the gardens and also to other recipients who work on the streets in the CBD.
- Distributing 1 500 raincoats to our partner NGOs.
- Providing goods to the participants of The Long Street Project, spearheaded by Khulisa Social Solutions and funded by the CCID and Long Street business owners, which is a rehabilitation programme that provides work opportunities and social support to a group of known homeless people.
- Supporting the St John’s Association on the streets and with certain equipment, including a blood pressure monitor. “The association has community sisters who work with streetpeople and our fieldworkers have been working closely with them to assist them if they need it. We are looking at ways to better support them and building a closer partnership to help them improve the service they can offer the homeless,” Pat says.
We always welcome contributions from the public:
- SMS “GIVE” to 38088 to donate R10.*
- Download the free SnapScan app onto your smartphone and scan the code below to donate the amount of your choice.**
- Make an EFT payment to the Show you care campaign. You can find bank details at www.showyoucare.co.za.
- Or, you can make a donation directly to the NGO of your choice. All items in good condition are appreciated.
- All monetary donations the CCID receives are split equally among six of its partner NGOs. The CCID takes no admin fee.
- *Our partner NGOs receive an average of R8 depending on your cellphone service provider.
- **A 3% admin fee goes to SnapScan.
- For detailed Ts&Cs visit www.showyoucare.co.za.