In response to the aggressive begging that is taking place near local stores that remain open during lock down, Green Point and Oranje-Kloof City Improvement Districts (GP/OKCID) Chief Executive shares the following advice: “While we are very sympathetic to their situation, we urge you to avoid interacting with their pleas, because once you have ‘opened the door,’ they will not leave you until you succumb to their request. Either giving them money or food does not help the situation, because you are then creating an expectation and the next person will be under the same pressure to deliver.”
He also encourages people to assist through NGOs that serve our community with a variety of programs, including dedicated drop off areas or collections points. “There are several NGOs doing amazing work during lockdown – including the Haven Night Shelter in Napier Street in Green Point and in Woodstock. The shelter is headed up by Hassan Khan, and they are doing a great job providing the destitute and vulnerable with three meals a day, among other initiatives,” add Truss. You can get involved and help protect the destitute and vulnerable during COVID-19 by visiting their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheHavenNightShelter/.”
You can also donate to Ladles of Love (https://www.ladlesoflove.org.za/), RPJ Helping Hands (https://www.facebook.com/RPJhelpinghands/), and Mould Empower Serve (MES) (https://www.facebook.com/mouldempowerserve/) who are currently serving thousands of meals a day to the homeless during lockdown, among other initiatives.
