HOMELESSNESS & THE INKATHALO CONVERSATIONS On the night of 25 May 2020, during the first vicious Cape Town winter storm, Community Chest opened its offices to a group of homeless citizens left destitute under a bridge after the closure of the controversial Strandfontein Homeless Camp. The former Strandfontein Homeless Action Committee selfmanaged the temporary accommodation during lockdown, with full use of all facilities while staff worked from home. Both parties agreed that temporary shelter would terminate on 31 July 2020. During the two-month period, Community Chest’s guests were treated to health intervention in the form of TB, HIV and COVID-19 testing via donor partnerships, we provided skills development training, job readiness and CV compilation and even achieved successful family reunifications. As agreed, residents vacated our Bree Street offices at the end of July and transitioned into alternative accommodation. Youth Solutions housed some residents, funded by Community Chest, Culemborg site management organisation, Ubuntu Circle of Courage, housed others, while a group of mostly employed individuals moved to a Gardens lodge, which became Our House. Our House was Community Chest’s belief in independent living for the homeless realised and we supported the initiative by funding rental for a limited period, while covering basic living expenses, providing refurbished computers and helping with donations in kind.
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THE COMMUNITY CHEST OF THE WESTERN CAPE | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 / 2021
At the same time, the City of Cape Town, through the office of Councillor Zahid Badroodien, requested an independent, unpaid and therefore unbiased process to provide recommendations to the City’s policies and strategies addressing homelessness in Cape Town. The Inkathalo Conversations were born, serving as a platform to provide all stakeholders an opportunity to have their opinions heard in an open forum, and to have them taken into consideration, regardless of circumstance. Designed by Community Chest, and conducted in partnership with Women Lead Movement, The Inkathalo Conversations delved into complex issues of homelessness over two eightweek phases structured and aimed to create a safe, honest and reflective dialogue among civil society, including the homeless, often excluded from the definition of “civil society.” Findings of the first phase, The Inkathalo Conversations on Homelessness: Phase 1 Comprehensive Report was presented to the City in June 2021. On 10 October 2020, we commemorated World Homeless Day by hosting a memorial service at the historic Groote Kerk to honour our homeless communities and those that lost their lives whilst living on the streets. At this service, Cape Argus editor, Aziz Hartley, offered Our House manager, Carlos Mesquita, a weekly column to continue the legacy of Danny Oosthuizen who sadly passed away in early 2020. Community Chest remains committed to seeking longerterm solutions on homelessness to assist the most vulnerable of our society.
THE COMMUNITY CHEST OF THE WESTERN CAPE | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 / 2021
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