Supporters of The Haven Night Shelter’s dignity project, from left, are Darryn Reddy; Carly Haydricks; Tracey Botha; Marlene Govender; The Haven Night Shelter CEO Shaddie Valayadum; The Haven Night Shelter’s executive assistant Jaco Maree; Mark Williams; Alistair Laguma; and Minnin du Preez.
The Haven Night Shelter will launch its Dignity Project later this week to help support the homeless during the festive season.
The initiative will run from tomorrow Tuesday, December 17, until Friday January 3 next year.
The shelter's CEO, Shaddie Valayadum said the programme aims to provide basic services to homeless individuals in Cape Town and will take place at The Haven’s head office at 2 Napier Street, Green Point.
He said the programme will provide hot showers, nutritious meals, laundry services, dignity packs, haircuts, shaving services, and access to phones for reconnecting with loved ones.
Social work support will also be available to assist with creating CVs and connecting individuals to social resources.
Homeless individuals from the far south are encouraged to go to the Kalk Bay shelter where they can register for the programme said Mr Valayadum.
They will be transported from there to the head office in Green Point.
Mr Valayadum said the programme is being supported by several partners in Cape Town.
Viva con Agua, a non-profit organisation that provides mobile sanitation facilities to the homeless in Cape Town will provide mobile showers and toilets, and a leading fibre network operator in the Western Cape will be contributing dignity packs and sandwiches.
Other contributors include a South African bread supplier which will supply daily bread, a retail bank in South Africa, which will sponsor dignity packs, and a laundry group, which will offer daily laundry services.
The Central City Improvement District (CCID) will provide security through patrols, while Longbeach Mall will continue to donate proceeds from its recently launched cookbook sales (“Cookbook dishes up some far south flavour,” Echo, October 14).
The Feed the Nation Foundation, a non-profit that provides food assistance to the most vulnerable in South Africa, will also contribute groceries to support meal preparation, he said.
“The Haven Night Shelter is calling on local businesses, organisations, and individuals to support the initiative by contributing funds, resources, or time,” he said, adding that the initiative is more than just a seasonal effort.
“It is a demonstration of community care and collaboration. By providing basic necessities, the programme seeks to uplift and empower individuals, reminding them of their inherent worth and place in society.The aim is to restore basic hygiene, dignity, and a sense of belonging for homeless individuals in Cape Town,” he said.