Well-wishers raise over R100,000 for Maritzburg homeless shelter
Former Maritzburg residents and other well-wishers have raised over R100,000 to help fund a homeless shelter that can house 400 people. About 1,000 people live on the city’s streets, including children and young people. Over 200 are young girls.
The fundraising effort was launched by former city journalist Marina Bang, and the shelter will be run by the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council, with the support of other faith groups, charities, the Chamber of Business, Community Chest and the municipality. “I had hoped to raise enough for two months’ rent on the shelter, but thanks to generous strangers and friends around the world, there is enough for six months!” Bang said. “The circumstances that cause homelessness can happen to any of us. Covid and unrest have devastated people’s livelihoods. People are hungry and cold, fearful and isolated.”
“Many of those who donated used to live in Maritzburg,” she said. “Homeless people will now have somewhere warm and safe to sleep, and get a hot meal and a shower, counselling and referral for health issues and other needs, so that they can rebuild their lives.”
OneLife Church, YMCA, Youth for Christ, Inkunzisematholeni, and Idwala homeless charity will rally to provide vital services, counselling and support to the residents of shelters in Mayor’s Walk and Abattoir Road. The Department of Health will conduct Covid screening and other health services, and SANCA will provide support for substance abusers. The municipality will provide security and transport, as well as further overflow shelters and sanitation.
Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Inter Religious Council, which is in support of the project, said: “Let us reach out in love to meet the urgent needs of our most vulnerable.”
One donor, Chris Mokolatsie, also a former city journalist, said: “Donating was the least I could do. In Sotho we say that no amount of food is so small that it cannot be shared. Let us share even the little we have.”
While the fundraising effort will cover rent for six months on the Mayor’s Walk shelter, food, toiletries and bedding are still needed. The shelters will be officially launched by the end of the month.