Mobile centre meets wall of opposition
Residents says feeding and discipling venture will bring more vagrants into the uMgeni Park area.
AN uMgeni Park woman has decided to forge ahead with her plan to help ‘disciple’ and feed the homeless and destitute on Riverside Road by setting up a Mobile Wellness Centre.
This despite mounting opposition by several residents and the local CPF. The resident who did not want to named, referred to herself as a spokesman for the centre said her vision was to intergrate homeless people back into society.
The centre provides meals to the homeless on a Wednesday, and inner and external healing and prayer. The centre is also in the process of registering and applying for ID books for the homeless and working on skills development and training.
We want to break the chain of poverty
“Our heart is help the poor and to help them lead valuable lives. We want to give them a second chance, educate them and disciple to them. This is about healing and skills development using Biblical principles. I met a young homeless man who never knew his parents and did not go to school, how will he have a decent chance in life if no one helps him?” she said at a meeting with Northglen News. She added the centre was trying to assist the centre was trying to assist in locating family members.
“This about giving people hope. We want them to know that they are born for a reason and they are valued. We want to break the chain of poverty in their lives and help them get off the street. This is someone’s mother, daughter, son, father on the streets, if it was your family, who would not want to help?” she asked.
But residents and the CPF are having none of it saying the move could have an adverse effect on the reisdents. The uMgeni Park resident said however, she could not comment on the residents concerns, and instead said the centres vision and plan was to help get the homeless of the streets.
Homeless people will affect crime rate
Another uMgeni Park resident who only gave his first name, Nick, said he feared the mobile centre would hurt his business.
“I’d like to commend them on their efforts, however, I would like to mention my concerns, with your good intentions come a lot of negative aspects. As an accommodation establishment, guests frequently ask where they can go for a jog or a cycle and with the cycle lane now open. What is the use of promoting this new venture brought about by the municipality to link the Umgeni Bird park via the green hub and down to uShaka, as the last thing anyone wants to see while on holiday is to see homeless and suffering people.
“Riverside road already has a well established prostitution problem. We have a Primary school just up the road from the centre and bringing in a whole lot of homeless people into the area will not make it safe for mothers who need to drop off and pick up kids from school, you will also be placing these kids in jeopardy that walk to and from school. People who think that an influx of homeless will not affect crime rate in the area are living in a dream world,” Nick said.
He ended by saying if the centre insists on doing the charity work, it must be done outside of the Riverside Road area.
