Cape Town - A concept allowing a dignified “shopping” experience for homeless people, piloted in Cape Town, has become an international trend.
The Street Store pop-up market first took place in Cape Town in January, with more markets since then and more coming soon, and has since been picked up by people in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and all over the world including San Diego, Brussels and Vancouver.
Creators Kayli Levitan and Maximilian Pazak, working for advertising agency M&C Saatchi Abel, took on the Haven Night Shelter account, determined to promote the network of shelters and make an impact on the lives of homeless people.
So they created the “world’s first rent-free, premises-free, free pop-up clothing store for the homeless, found entirely on the street and curated by the public”.
Pazak said when they started promoting the project on social media it fast gained momentum and before the first event took place it was trending on Twitter.
“It got such momentum that people started picking it up all around the world,” Pazak said.
He said it’s “great to see other countries getting involved” because many people think it is a South African issue, but there are homeless people in need of help everywhere in the world.
At thestreetstore.org anyone can apply to host their own Street Store and receive all the files they need. And the open-source material is so in demand that it’s had to be translated into nine languages.
Pazak said it was important for their concept to be accessible to anyone. “It’s not the kind of idea we felt we could keep for ourselves because it’s about helping people.”
Their offices are in Green Point, and Pazak said they see a lot of homelessness despite being in a wealthy area.
With The Street Store people can choose to donate clothes to the hosts or volunteer their time, they can see where their donations are going and then homeless people can choose an outfit and, depending what has been donated, accessories, blankets and toiletries.
“It’s giving them a shopping experience. Usually they’re just handed clothing that may not even be their size,” said Pazak. “Now they can choose an outfit for themselves in a very dignified way.”
Cape Times