Finding a home for the homeless
Life Changer alongside the Pietermaritzburg Homeless Network (PHN) is using World Homeless Day on October 10 to raise awareness of the lack of spaces for the 2500 people living on Pietermaritzburg’s streets.
Life Changer is a project under One Life Foundation dedicated to advocating for the city’s homeless
PHN, a coalition of like-minded organisations, churches and private businesses, has been meeting and working towards creating a safe space for the homeless as there is currently no shelter, emergency accommodation or rehabilitation facility in our city. However, this goal is yet to be achieved.
The PHN’s campaign, in the build up to October 10, serves to create awareness around the issue of homeless with the distribution of green t-shirts with the question, “Where should I go?”
“The aim of the campaign is to ask the question, if we don’t want homeless people on the street, where should they go? By raising awareness, we also hope to raise funds, to either rent, support or even buy a building that will serve as a centre for restoration for the homeless community. What that looks like depends on funds available and partnerships that are formed through this awareness campaign,” PHN explained.
In the week leading up to World Homeless Day, the t-shirts will be seen on various platforms from social media to street corners. PHN is also encouraging celebrities, social media influencers and community leaders to wear the t-shirt and advocate for this campaign as well.
“We want to use our voice and visibility to speak for those who are often unheard and unseen.”
On World Homeless Day, commemorated on October 10, PHN will host a street walk and clean-up in the city with members of PHN, as well as homeless people, and anyone who is willing to join in.
This will be followed by a lunch at YMCA served to homeless people by homed people, called “Table of Dignity.” There will be a time of worship, prayer and fellowship with the street community and those who are homed.
“If the campaign accomplishes nothing else, we hope that it will make the city aware of the lack of facilities for those associated with the streets of Pietermaritzburg and encourage more compassion towards these vulnerable members of our community.”
There are a number of ways you can get involved:
• Sponsor a batch of t-shirts – 50 t-shirts = R2500
• Wear t-shirts in the week leading up to October 10 to raise awareness, and increase impact by posting on social media (October 4-10)
• Come to the event on October 10 wearing your t-shirts, bring cleaning equipment and help with the clean up
• Contribute towards the meal served on October 10
• Help with serving the meal to homeless people on October 10
• Come play soccer or basketball with the homeless guys on October 10
• Donate towards the shelter
• Run an awareness campaign in your school, church, company or community To purchase/ sponsor t-shirts, email info@lifechangersa.org you can also donate through Life Changer website: https://www.lifechangersa.org/pmb-shelter
For more information visit: www. lifechangersa.org/pmb-shelter