A vital community organisation serving adults with substance-abuse issues desperately needs local support to avoid closure due to insufficient funding.
Helderbergers are being called on to rally behind SMART (Substance Misuse: Advocacy, Research, Training) which, through its direct service-delivery arm Helderberg Cares, provides essential counselling and recovery support for adults battling drug and alcohol addiction while also training healthcare professionals across the basin.
In providing insight SMART executive director and social worker Nicola Arendse said the organisation faces imminent closure by November due to three years of significant subsidy cuts by the Department of Social Development.
Despite survival measures, including staff-salary reductions, expense cuts, freezing a social-worker position and emergency funding from an overseas donor, the Somerset West organisation cannot sustain operations. “The overseas funder has provided their final contribution and cannot offer long-term support,” Arendse explained. “Without new funding within two months, SMART will be unable to cover December expenses and will be forced to shut down by November’s end, leaving the Helderberg community without this vital lifeline that has served countless clients, families and communities.”
She further noted that SMART currently receives just over 60% of the government grant it received in 2021-’22 and needs R220 000 to cover all financial commitments through March 2026. Its dire situation was further compounded by the similar fate of Help-Me-Network, the only other community-based treatment facility in the basin offering specialist addiction treatment, prevention services and behaviour-change interventions.
Key services curtailed
Highlighting the key impacts, Arendse said the funding crisis has forced service curtailments through staff reductions and shortened work hours, resulting in delayed appointments, heavier caseloads and insufficient time for crucial client and family interventions, including motivation for treatment and recovery preparation.
The organisation serves as a vital link in the rehabilitation chain, receiving referrals from homeless services (Somerset West Night Shelter, U-Turn, Thomas House), the Department of Correctional Services, hospitals, clinics and the Department of Social Development, with clients typically progressing from SMART’s addiction treatment to skills-development programmes before community reintegration.
SMART’s potential closure would create a critical gap in this support network, severely limiting partner organisations’ ability to assist vulnerable individuals with substance-abuse issues who are often homeless, in the justice system or seeking medical help.
“We are sending out an urgent plea to businesses, individuals and the community of the Helderberg to support and financially assist SMART to ensure that those who need help in stopping alcohol and drug abuse can access the professional, evidence-based services of SMART and learn to lead lives of recovery.”
Currently, the organisation serves eight to 12 clients through its Matrix treatment programme, in addition to those it assists with in-patient programme placement and individual treatment needs.
Responding to needs of each client
“In a year about 15 to 20 clients complete the full 16-week intensive treatment programme,” said Arendse. “Up to 40 clients complete a minimum of two months’ treatment. While this does not sound like much, treatment of drug and alcohol use is long and intensive. We pride ourselves in offering individualised treatment and being able to respond to the needs of each client.”
While demand for addiction-assistance services is difficult to quantify she highlighted the significant unmet need in the community. “It is estimated that in the Western Cape about 20% of the population has a substance-use disorder. About 5% of people who need treatment actually access treatment. The need is staggering.”
Arendse warned that inaccessible treatment services would have devastating consequences. “Having a substance-use disorder is a progressive disease, which increases in severity the longer it continues. This will mean increased pressure on the public and mental-health services, policing and social services. Homelessness, gender-based violence, domestic violence, unemployment and criminal activities will continue to increase. Treatment changes lives. It is not only the life of the user that changes completely, but the lives of those around them that changes for the better.”
Beyond sustainable long-term funding through grants and monetary donations, the community can assist through donations of paper, stationery, cleaning supplies and ingredients for hot beverages for clients attending treatment sessions.
“Ultimately, our services always need to be accessible to all who need it,” Arendse said. “It is our core belief that the lack of money should not be an obstacle to accessing quality, professional and evidence-based treatment services, reiterating that without financial support SMART cannot keep its doors open.
“We can help those with drug and alcohol problems, but we cannot do it alone; it takes ongoing community effort. We need your help to do our best to help each client make the change.”
SMART has launched an online crowdfunding campaign. To donate, visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-helderberg-cares-keep-its-doors-open.
