U-turn helps to overcome homelessness

Melville-based charity store provides local homeless people with work-readiness programmes from homelessness to integration into society and independence.

U-turn is a registered Christian charity that has developed a phased approach to help men and women off the streets around Johannesburg. The organisation was established in Cape Town 26 years ago. In 2022 they opened a branch in Johannesburg.

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U-turn’s work-readiness programme is already operational with the first homeless people enrolled in the programme in October 2022 and the first worksite, a charity shop and laundry in Melville, opened in early November 2022.

Mid-2023 a second store and warehouse opened next to the first charity store in Melville. These two stores serve as four worksites for the beneficiaries of the work readiness programme comprising a retail charity store, a laundry, a household goods charity store, and a warehouse.

Work readiness manager Lauren Graham-Parker said, “U-turn provides a four-phased journey out of homelessness. From the streets to sobriety, employment, and independence, this often takes between 18 months to two years. U-turn provides tools for the community to effectively respond to homelessness, including a voucher system to remove cash from the streets and connect people in need directly with homeless support service.

“Our service centre is where basic needs are met, but we avoid hand-outs mentality; we have voucher-earning activity where we give the champs a chance to see if they are ready to work and change.”

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Graham-Parker outlined the four-phase approach:

1. Change Readiness – motivates people experiencing homelessness to change.

2. Rehabilitation – provides support to individuals who are in a therapeutic process at a partner rehabilitation.

3. Work-Readiness – provides on-site work experience through our social enterprises.

4. Independence- This is the graduation stage. It extends long after completing the programme, including life coaching and counselling.

Nthabiseng Matlabyane, a social worker at U-turn, added, “The Personal Development Training (PDT) programme is a 10-week term programme, where the champs get to participate in personal development training activities. These include Bible study, life skill group, IT group, recovery group, and counselling with long-term results for rehabilitation and reintegration.
“The block ends with an experience day where the champs engage in leisure activities, more like a fun day. ”

U-turn has provided 16 sheltered employment work spaces for previously homeless people. Two of them shared their journeys.

Romario de Freitas (29) said, “I started my journey at U-turn on March 5, 2023. U-turn has changed my life for the better; they gave me opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I got support for my recovery journey and they helped skill me and build me as a person. I am in the growth phase of the programme, and next term will be graduation – from staying at the U-turn shelter to having my place to stay and work.”

Bhekumuzi Ngwenya (32) said, “After 11 years of being on a street, U-turn has helped me to grow and re-gained my confidence. It has been a good journey with great personal growth and skill development. I started my journey at U-turn in September 2023, and am in phase three of the programme. I am working in manual sales, at the U-turn shop. U-turn has also helped me reconnect with my family – once a week I go home to visit my family and son.”

The work readiness programme is funded through the income generated by U-turn’s social enterprises. The organisation has an 83% success rate of individuals migrating off the streets permanently.

For more information, contact area manager Lindley April on 011 568 4572 or via email at lindley@homeless.org.za; visit www.homeless.org.za or the store at 91 4th Avenue, Melville, Johannesburg.

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