U-turn, a non-profit organisation that helps to get the home

• Published date: 25 April 2024
• Author: Janice Matthews janice.matthews@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Constantiaberg Bulletin

The plan was discussed at a public meeting attended by 70 people at the Church Street Methodist Church – the proposed site for the service centre – on Wednesday April 17

At the meeting, residents were urged to be part of a solution to reduce homelessness, and U-turn said it needed financial support to open the service centre at the church’s hall and give the homeless access to food, clothing and rehabilitation through a voucher system.

Homelessness and drug abuse have exploded in Wynberg in the wake of the pandemic, according to ward councillor Emile Langenhoven.

“Wynberg has become rife with opportunities for drug dealers to prey on people with addiction problems, with drug deals taking place in broad daylight in various hotspots around Wynberg.

“Moving homeless people off, as is requested of me regularly, does not solve the problem. It merely moves the problem elsewhere. I believe U-turn is the first step towards creating a value chain of services that will see homeless people and people with addiction become productive, integrated members of society,” Mr Langenhoven said.

U-turn’s chief business development officer, Jon Hopkins, said U-turn had run a skills-based programme for the past 25 years.

The programme starts with a Mi-change voucher, which is sold by U-turn at R50 for a pack of five. One voucher goes back towards funding the service centre and the other four can be given to any homeless person to be redeemed for food, clothing and other basic needs at a service centre.

“It is a very low barometer entry. If you come one day and not the next, it is okay. Once someone is in the centre, we say but you can earn vouchers, and it builds the desire for change,” Mr Hopkins said.

Vouchers are earned working with resident...