U-Turn services in Fish Hoek will temporarily be conducted in Kalk Bay Community Church until a secure and suitable site can be found.
The non-profit organisation that operates its service centre out of a double-decker bus in a parking lot behind the Caltex petrol station in Fish Hoek has been relocated to allow for refurbishment.
This after petty criminals vandalised the bus and stole copper wires and diesel, according to Stephen Underwood the fund-raising officer at U-Turn.
“In light of the damage incurred to the existing bus, another fully refurbished service bus is available for replacement. However, it will only be deployed once a secure site can be located,” he said.
Mr Underwood says the City recently offered the service organisation space at the Fish Hoek civic centre, but it was unfortunately not feasible from a space perspective.
“With the traffic department and library located there, the four bays we were given were just enough to accommodate the bus. Our work often involves putting up a tent to create a little outside meeting area from which we also conduct group services.
“On a rainy day we can get maybe a dozen people in there, but when we get 30 to 40 people for services we can’t accommodate them in the bus. Because the space is limited, we cannot provide services from there,” he said.
U-turn will continue to offer services to homeless clients in Fish Hoek and surrounds at their new temporary facilities and will operate from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and from 1.30pm on Tuesdays.
The Mi-Change vouchers, which were launched at all U-turn service centres earlier this year, are redeemable at the service centre in Kalk Bay and can be used for a meal, clothing, toiletries, a shower, blankets, or a safe place to sleep.
A pack of four vouchers costs R50, and R10 from each redeemed voucher goes to the partnering service provider where it is redeemed. The vouchers can also be bought online at MiChange.org and delivered to you.
The organisation would ideally like to be back in Fish Hoek. If anyone has any leads regarding a suitable premises or 24-hour secure parking for the bus, contact stephen@homeless.org.za
