I overheard a conversation on the Sea Point promenade that kicked me in the gut and made me really assess some things, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt.
To set the scene, two friends were taking a break from what was probably a power walk. I was looking out at the ocean, and a homeless man strolled, humming sweetly, passing us by.
The conversation went something like this:
“Yeah but the weather is terrible this weekend, and that’s when you get over Cape Town, because all your weekend adventures are out the window.”
“I mean I guess,” his friend responded. “But like think of that guy. For him, the bad weather means something else entirely. Like entirely.”
It was the second entirely that became etched in my mind.
I heard the silence after that. The one who had been complaining about the weather intruding on his plans simply didn’t know what to say. To someone else, it meant a harder time just trying to survive.
Most of us are guilty of the vocal man’s thinking, especially in Cape Town. When the weather isn’t favourable, our minds instinctively go to all the plans that won’t happen, and the adventures we can’t embark on. But when we raise our heads up ever so slightly, open our eyes a little bit wider and decide to notice, as we so often decide to ignore, we will see the thousands of unhoused people for whom bad weather means far more than forfeited plans.
It’s another day out in the furious cold. Another night in uncomfortable rain. Another hour trying to find something warm to shield oneself from the pitfalls of mother nature.
As my weather warrior’s companion put it, for the unhoused community, Cape Town’s moody weather means something else entirely.
And we need to face the facts. We have a big homeless problem in our country, but particularly in Cape Town. As Daily Maverick recently reported, even before the pandemic’s full effect there were around 14,000 people sleeping on our city’s streets- and the number is realistically far more.
Now I don’t wish to leave us all feeling guilty. We can be upset about our plans, and upset for others in less fortunate positions. In the case of the former, there’s not much we can do unless you want to enjoy the beach in a drizzle. However, in the case of the latter, there’s actually a substantial amount that we can do, and it goes beyond the bad weather days.
What we can do for the homeless, beyond giving them coins
According to social awareness publication, Impact, here are some pretty helpful things you can do to aid homeless people beyond scratching around for a few coins. I’ve also included some personal suggestions.
1. Give them something to protect themselves against the current weather.
An old coat. A sleeping bag. A blanket, or maybe a spare umbrella. Most of us have more than one of these items anyway, so it’s even cheaper than your coins. On cold days, think of anything that can help get insulation going. When the weather decides to be warmer something as small as sunscreen can go a long way.
2. Pack a little survival bag for someone
A bag of essential products could be the sunshine on a cloudy day. How about some canned foods? Toilet paper? A garbage bag or two? A jungle oats bar and a bottle of water sounds delicious. Non-perishable foods that we forget in the back of our cupboards could make someone’s day. For female members of the homeless community, think period products, and maybe some baby wipes. Tissues are also a lesser thought of essential.
3. Offer a grocery shop gift card
Maybe the next time you splurge on a big shop, throw in a gift card. You’re giving someone the gift of choice in this sense too, which is empowering in itself.
4. Offer words of encouragement, and opportunities for them you may know of
We are all just people. Having a conversation, and treating someone like a person instead of a statistic can be incredibly meaningful. Ask them how their day was. How they are. Share job opportunities you might know of with them. Naturally assess your situation as you would with any stranger, but be a friend in that moment if you can.
4. Offer second-hand smart clothing
So often, the stigma goes that homeless people are not trying to do anything about their situations. In fact, we might be surprised to find that many are. However, job interviews focus largely on appearances, first impressions do count. An old suit or smart dress could be incredibly beneficial to someone who can’t remember the last time they dressed up. There’s a UK-based initiative called Suited for Success that actually provides suits for homeless and struggling people. Now, I’m not telling capetonians to go around dishing out suits and ties, there are far more essential items. But following point 3, if the conversation allows for you to politely ask if they have any job opportunities underway, this point might serve as an added bonus of a little help going a long way.
5. The three-in-one kit
A South African designer created an incredible three-in-one insulation kit for the homeless. The initiative is still underway, and purchasing items like these to distribute could be very helpful to someone. You can find more information here.
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Picture: Art by Adebanji Alade/ Pinterest
