‘Writing this column has been a joy and a significant part of my advocacy for the homeless. I believe it’s contributed to many changes for those living on the streets.’ File Picture: Brendan Magaar/Independent Newspapers
This marks my fourth anniversary as the Cape Argus’ Dignity Project columnist, and I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the past four years since I left the streets.
While this column exceeds the usual length, I hope it can be published in full to maintain the flow of the narrative. As an anniversary gift, I hope you’ll allow me this privilege.
Thank you to everyone for sharing in my experiences and those of others who rely on me to be their voice. I remain as grateful today as I was four years ago for this incredible opportunity.
This week, someone asked me on World Homeless Day about the highs and lows of the past four years. The question caught me off guard. On one hand, I can hardly believe it’s been four and a half years since being taken off the mountain at Van Riebeeck Park and transported to Strandfontein camp for the homeless. On the other, so much has happened in such a short time. Today, I’m answering that question in my column as I promised on World Homeless Day.
The first highlight was seeing my picture on the front page of the Cape Argus, announcing me as its new columnist.
Lorenzo Davids, then CEO of Community Chest, took a photo of the paper on a news rack and sent it to me via WhatsApp.
Writing this column has been a joy and a significant part of my advocacy for the homeless. I believe it’s contributed to many changes for those living on the streets.
I will never forget Dr Zahid Badrodien telling me that the City was well aware of the contents of my weekly column, as it was regularly discussed in the council. My writing has kept homelessness a key topic of discussion and on the political agenda, despite attempts to silence me.
Another political highlight was being approached to stand as a councillor for Sea Point by the Good Party in the 2021 municipal elections. This increased my profile and allowed me to further advocate for those living on the streets.
A significant moment was taking over the "Our House" project when Community Chest withdrew funding. This coincided with my development of The Rehoming Collective, which aimed to provide dignified housing alternatives for the homeless. At that time, I was also tasked with creating a representative body for both the homeless and service providers, which led to the formation of the Homeless Action Coalition in early 2021.
While this period was full of successes, it was also characterised by betrayal, greed, and attempts to undermine me. It brought me close to returning to the streets, as those I trusted turned against me, revealing the limits to which organisations would support homeless individuals.
I withdrew from those circles and continued my mission to change perceptions of homelessness and seek dignified, sustainable solutions. Together with others who had lived on the streets, we founded CM Homeless Solutions and Outsider. This has been the most rewarding part of my journey, as we see the impact we are having in reducing homelessness.
Other highlights include receiving a grant to write my book *Being, Becoming, Belonging*, being invited to international forums on homelessness, and having some of my ideas piloted globally. It was also a thrill to have my Facebook page reach over a million views a month and to be appointed as a researcher for the Good Party in the Provincial Legislature. However, I ultimately resigned from the party when it no longer aligned with my values.
I am proud of the “Homeless for Christmas” campaign, which I launched in December 2022. Through this campaign, we conducted over 9,000 assessments across Cape Town to build a comprehensive database of the city’s homeless population.
I am also immensely proud of our group homes project, which provides housing for the elderly, disabled, and mentally ill, as well as families who have lost their homes. Our homeless art project, H'Art, will be featured in an exhibition and competition for homeless artists in the UK this November.
These four years have been anything but easy. They’ve been a rollercoaster—invigorating, humbling, educational, and ultimately fulfilling. Seeing the impact of my work on improving the lives of those on the streets and knowing they still have a strong voice in me has made it all worthwhile.
* Mesquita is a previously homeless man and founder of Outsider an organisation focused on enlightening people on homelessness and on accommodating those living on the streets in a dignified and sustainable manner.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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