The concept of World Homeless Day was conceived in online discussions on the global issue of homelessness involving people from various parts of the world.
It was marked for the first time on October 10, 2010.
World Homeless Day is designed to raise awareness of homelessness as a global issue, combat associated stigma (contrary to a popular misconception, that not all homeless people are addicts or criminals), and encourage people to get involved in responding to homelessness.
The purpose of World Homeless Day is to draw attention to people who experience homelessness and their needs locally and to provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness while taking advantage of the stage an “international day” provides.
Here are my suggestions on how to make a difference this coming World Homeless Day and the week preceding it, which is this year called “Homeless and Hunger Action Week”, and will run from October 3 to 10:
- Educate people about homeless issues.
- Celebrate and support local good works that promote the ending of chronic homelessness in Cape Town.
- Highlight local issues on homelessness in the media.
- Donate to local service providers. Volunteer and provide hands-on help.
- Thank volunteers with certificates and awards.
- Invite a guest speaker to speak at your church, school or organisation.
- Host a fund-raiser for your favourite homeless service provider.
- Acknowledge homeless people, remembering anyone can potentially become homeless. Homelessness does not discriminate.
- Remember also that homelessness is a state relating to an individual and not a trait that defines who an individual is.
As we approach World Homeless Day on October 10, I am again calling on all those who care for and work with the homeless to join hands with me and support the extension of this year’s World Homeless Day to a week of homeless and hunger awareness and action.
The security of a home is where we all build our hopes and dreams for the future. Everyone in our society should have a safe and secure place they call home.
And ideally, it should not be in a night shelter, a tent or a shack out on the streets, where people eventually, most, through no fault of their own, become ostracised and alienated from society.
But right now, many people are denied this basic human need. This is no way to live.
The constant pressure of homelessness can leave many feeling like a burden and it has devastating effects on people’s mental health.
People on the street often say “it makes them feel lonely, isolated and ashamed”.
Homelessness takes many forms, none of them pleasant, and sleeping on the streets is incredibly dangerous. This is not only through the very real threat of physical confrontation or theft, but also this past winter with temperatures dropping, the risk to life became more acute and this year, being the first year that we tried to monitor reports of deaths, it was shocking to have had at least one death reported weekly.
But it doesn’t need to be this way. The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of the safety of having a home. It has also shown us what is possible when we pull together.
However, the coronavirus has slowed down our economy and we are now experiencing rising unemployment, pushing more of us to the brink of homelessness.
We know what it takes to end homelessness.
We need to help people to find secure accommodation where they can live without fear or threat and provide them with the tools to sustain it. Like skills, confidence, well-being, and the ability to find and keep a job.
We also campaign for the changes needed to end chronic homelessness for good.
We know it’s possible – if we ensure there is enough supportive, transitional and social accommodation as well as affordable independent living spaces as part and parcel of a homeless ladder of accommodation. If we ensure housing benefits meet the costs involved, and we all work as communities to provide support at the right time so people aren’t pushed to the brink of homelessness in the first place, then we can achieve this.
Please support our work and our collective ambition can end homelessness.
We will be launching this year’s Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week’s Activities a week early this year by holding an event on September 29 at the Green Point Tennis Club.
If you would like to donate to the various events that we will hold during that period, please feel free to contact me via email: [email protected]
Any organisations that would like to join the activities or are interested in being branded as supporters of this initiative are also welcome to contact me via the same email.
Looking forward to it? So am I!
* Carlos Mesquita and a handful of others formed HAC (the Homeless Action Committee) that lobbies for the rights of the homeless. He also manages Our House in Oranjezicht, which is powered by the Community Chest. He can be reached at [email protected].
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Newspapers.
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