Toiletries, food parcels, computer training and entrepreneurship courses are some of the donations that the homeless at the City’s 1 Dan Street shelter in Florida, Roodepoort, received during a ceremony aimed to honour stakeholders that are keeping the shelter afloat.
Islamic Relief, Eleven06 Solutions, Synergic Covenant Network and Westview alcohol and drug rehab clinic are some of the organisations that were honoured on Friday, 4 September 2020, for empowering and restoring the dignity of the homeless.
The City’s Regional Coordinator at Social Development department, Trisha Rajendrakumar, says the shelter still have a long way to go for its challenges to be resolved.
“Most of the people who come to the shelters do not have identity documents or valid passports. We recently roped in the Department of Home Affairs and different embassies to assist us,” Rajendrakumar explains.
Eleven06 Solutions founder Desigan Govender says his logistic company is going to pay for all individuals who are applying for new IDs and temporary IDs at Home Affairs.
“Having an ID restores hope, something which people who are here really need the most. Almost all people who are here don’t work, more especially now during Covid-19 lockdown, which has seen the economy shed many jobs. It’s for that reason that Eleven06 Solutions stepped in and pledge to pay for everyone that needs a new ID,” Govender says.
Smira Zwide, a qualified teacher who has been staying at the shelter since May, says he is grateful for the support. “I urge all organisations and businesses to get involved and uplift their communities, especially the youth and most vulnerable,” the 26-year-old adds.
The 1 Dan Street shelter houses 63 homeless men age between 19 and 80 years from South Africa and the neighbouring countries.
Homeless shelters within the City of Joburg include 3 Kotze Street (overnight shelter), Windsor West (soon to be converted into an overnight shelter) and Governor's House (assessment centre).
For more information you can contact the City’s displaced persons unit on 011 407 7308
Written by Takalani Sioga
