The Cape Town Central City Improvement District has launched its 2022/23 Hope for the Homeless fundraising campaign to support key NGOs that uplift the homeless in the CBD.
The campaign, a Show You Care initiative of the CCID’s Social Development department, aims to raise over R100 000 through public donations for six main NGO partners that work closely with the organisation to improve the lives and conditions of those less fortunate, offer them the chance at a better life, and help them move off the street.
With the organisation having raised R121 514 during the 2021/22 campaign, Tasso Evangelinos, CEO of the CCID, says they would like to surpass this tally considering the country’s rising unemployment rates and post-pandemic poverty levels which have worsened people’s conditions.
“Working to alleviate homelessness requires a combined effort,” Evangelinos says. “We were heartened by the way our NGO partners, community groups, corporates and ordinary citizens supported each other this time last year at the height of the pandemic and it illustrated what can be done when we work together.
“We are once again asking everyone to pull together for the CBD’s homeless community, who face even more challenges this year, and call on the public and corporates to get involved and do their bit this winter and beyond,” says Evangelinos.
CCID Social Development social worker Sameegah Hoffmeyer and her colleagues interact with homeless clients every day.
SURIVING THE COLD AND WET CAPE CLIMATE
The Hope for the Homeless campaign benefits the following NGOs: The Hope Exchange, Khulisa Social Solutions, Straatwerk, The Homestead Projects for Street Children, Ons Plek and Youth Solutions Africa (YSA).
It complements the CCID’s Winter Readiness programme, which is being rolled out, and provides 1 000 care bags, 50 blankets, 500 packets of dry food and 2 000 sanitary pads for homeless people on the inner-city streets. This year, the CCID will also fund bed space – in addition to the 18 beds subsidised by the CCID throughout the year – at YSA for four months for 25 people, plus food costs.
Evangelinos adds that “no effort is too small” as aside from financial donations, the organisation welcomes contributions of non-perishable food and warm items, including blankets, shoes, jackets, socks, scarves and beanies.
Khulisa Social Solutions' Streetscapes garden is situated in Roeland Street.
WORK REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES
The campaign highlights the work of the CCID’s Social Development department’s social and field workers, who interact with the homeless on a daily basis. It also highlights the work-based rehabilitation projects on which the CCID collaborates with its NGO partners.
The CCID’s commitment to social issues and uplifting the homeless dates back to 2008 when the campaign was launched with messaging encouraging people to “Give Responsibly” to the homeless. Over the years, it evolved into the “Show You Care” campaign as it strove to address ways to best assist the homeless population of the Central City.
Over the past 14 years, the campaign has grown in stature and reputation as an informative, credible and compassionate campaign to raise awareness for the plight of the homeless and much-needed funding for is partner NGOs. With the current messaging, namely “Hope for the Homeless”, it aims to offer positive solutions to the ongoing homelessness challenge in the CBD.
HOW TO DONATE
To donate to the campaign, visit show you care. Clothes and non-perishable foods can be donated via the CCID’s branded donation bins in the foyers of various Cape Town CBD buildings. For a list of where the bins are located, or if your company would like a bin, email aziza@capetownccid.org.
For more information and updates, follow the CCID on Instagram (@capetownccid) and Facebook (@CapeTownCCID), or visit CapeTownCCID.org.
IMAGES: Ed Suter, Carmen Lorraine