The homeless in Muizenberg has a new refuge thanks to the hopeful partnership between the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) and NPO U-Turn. The new service centre aims to assist and uplift those that are currently living on the streets.
According to MID chairperson Peter Corbett, the seaside suburb of Muizenberg has long been an attractive area for the homeless as residents strive to “find ways to assist people in need.”
However, they have noticed an increase in homeless people since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as various aspects of the economy continue to suffer, forcing more and more people onto the streets and further into poverty.
“Muizenberg has had an influx of people suffering from homelessness during the past year as the pandemic pushed more and more people into poverty and onto the streets, resulting in the need for a service centre becoming more pressing than ever before,” said Corbett.
We are therefore extremely pleased that, after months of battling red tape and trying to find a suitable venue, U-Turn has, with the financial support of MID, been able to secure premises in the heart of Muizenberg and open the long-awaited Muizenberg Service Centre.”
The new centre is seeing 20 people a day and supports homeless people in the immediate area, including areas as far as Kalk Bay. They serve two meals a day and provide much-needed clothing through a voucher system. The centre also offers a voluntary rehabilitation programme that provides people with the necessary skills and support to help get them off the streets.
This incredible initiative allows residents to give responsibly while guiding those in need to a centre that can help. Residents can purchase U-Turn vouchers at participating retail stores in Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and St James.
Vouchers can also be purchased online via www.homeless.org.za
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