Restoring the dignity of homeless residents in Mitchell’s Plain was the motivation behind an event hosted by the Mitchell’s Plain Community Advice and Development Project.
In partnership with the Department of Health and Wellness and other like-minded organisations, the event was held at the Portland Indoor Centre on Thursday 26 October.
Johnathan Jonkers of the advice office says the event is also in commemoration of World Homeless Day observed on 10 October.
“There was nothing held in Mitchell’s Plain. We now consider this homeless month and wanted to do something for the homeless community,” he says.
One of the biggest contributors to homelessness in the area is the lack of shelters nearby, he says.
Having worked in the homeless space for more than 20 years, Jonkers says the event is about restoring dignity.
“We wanted to treat them with dignity. We shared a meal with them and gave them hope. Our long-term goal is to stand with other non-governmental organisations and collaborate to assist the homeless,” he says. “There are so many government organisations that need to play a role, like the labour department for those who have criminal records and the department of corrections.”
Dean Ramjoomia of the Nehemiah Call Initiative has worked with the homeless community for some years and was instrumental in spreading the word about the event.
“It is important that we give worth to people. Their worth is undermined and that influences their behaviour,” he says.
Drug and substance addiction – while a contributor to homelessness in the area – is not the biggest concern.
“Relapse and accessibility to treatment is the biggest factor. I have one person I am working with who has relapsed 17 times,” he says.
Residents who are largely from the Town Centre area were treated to a warm shower provided by Viva Con Agua’s Nina Manzi mobile ablution facility, designed specifically for use by the homeless.
The event also saw clothing donated, water bottles, sanitary pads for the women and a formal sit-down meal.
Shariefa Petersen, a homeless resident who attended the event was so happy and appreciative to receive the items and health care.
“I was on drugs and that is how I ended up homeless. When I found out I was pregnant at 16, I left everything. I tried living with my child’s father but that did not work out. We then lived by his grandmother, but that also did not work out. It has been seven years now living in a car,” she says.
Her biggest hurdle now is employment. Petersen is eager to work and showed off her ID document, her son’s clinic card and copies of her CV.
“I pray every day and I just want to get back on my feet,” she says.
While there are many people and organisations who hand out food, Petersen believes more initiatives like this are needed for the homeless.
Health department officials were also on hand to do TB testing, blood glucose and other health testing.
Social worker for the department, René Daniels says TB and other lifestyle diseases such as Diabetes are very common among the homeless because of the tight living quarters, poor ventilation and poor diet.
“We find that the homeless do not come to the facilities because they don’t want to wait in long lines, or they are aware of how people are judging them,” she says. “By the time we pick up these things, the problem is so acute, whereas it could have been treated earlier.”
With the free service, those tested are expected to collect their results and start medication treatment.
Daniels says while they are aware of the concern around the misuse of medications, that each individual is made aware of the importance of continuing their treatment and the responsibility of using their medications for their conditions only.
