LIVE IN HOPE

THANK you to everyone who responded to my columns on my Facebook and other social media. I have been humbled by the support and energised by the constructive criticism.

Also a huge word of thanks to the Cape Argus and its editorial staff for having provided this opportunity and, once again, committing to highlighting the plight of the homeless in Cape Town, and for their patience in my often missing my deadline.

Our HOUSE, the independent living space I conceptualised and managed for the past six months, was made possible by the Community Chest. Its commitment to the project for its initial six months has been exceptional and, together with the commitment of the residents, our HOUSE has validated many of my theories about homelessness. I hope the stories allow you to live in hope of a better future, as they do me.

Anda Mazantsana and Chantel Sampson Mazantsana found love in a loveless place – Strandfontein – and two weeks ago became Mrs and Mrs Mazantsana. Their love for each other was their rehab. Today they live, work and play drug free.

The next story features eight young men joining an upliftment and empowerment programme run by Letsie de Beer whose organisation, Anchored Lives, has seen these individuals start up small businesses and become self-employed.

Lance Fish is a talented all-rounder. Intelligent, practical, handy and a brilliant artist to boot, had his best, most productive year yet. He joined the Homeless Action Committee (HAC) at Strandfontein and showed his initiative at our HOUSE, resulting in our landlady employing him as handyman and then partnering with him in a business called Mr Fix it all. More significant, however, is his increased self-esteem. I salute Lance for his strength of character.

I salute the residents who, in the past six months, under difficult economic conditions, went out and got themselves employed: Anda, Chantel, Lance, Teddy, Siyabulela, Sinethemba, Mzwanele (Jeremy), Nosiphiwo, Joseph and those who left, already employed Peter (Pretoria), Craig (Durban), Neo (Pretoria), and Lance McMurty and Gill Snow, who went into rehabilitation and are living independently.

I salute the Anchored Lives Entrepreneurs: Wiseman, Stembiso, Bongile, Deon, Brian, Mzukile, Bulelani and Fabian, spending this festive season running their small businesses – one will be crowned “Eager Beaver” in January. I salute Sibusiso, without whom I would not have managed our HOUSE successfully.

I have made good decisions this year. I have gone from the “tik kop” in Riebeek Park with a stall on the Parade, to conceptualising and managing a house for the homeless and have become the Cape Argus columnist you are reading. The facts state that 70% of those who have lived at our HOUSE these past six months have found employment. Four reverted back to the streets and only three remain unemployed.

I live in hope that next year we will find funding for this concept and surpass these achievements.

A concept that few believed in has changed lives in a way and magnitude that few others (if any) have.

I hope our stories will inspire others to look with new wisdom at re-homing the homeless and invest in re-homing them with dignity.