New haven for homeless pensioners
“This subsidised housing facility is for older people, specifically homeless pensioners receiving Sassa grants but without any families.”
A new facility to house elderly people struggling to survive on state grants was opened in the city centre on Wednesday. Named The INN, the facility can house around 55 people and the project was spearheaded by the TLF and Yeast City Housing.
“This subsidised housing facility is for older people, specifically homeless pensioners receiving Sassa grants but without any families,” said Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF) representative Wayne Renkin during the official opening.
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“The problem is that R1 800 Sasa pension is not enough for an elderly person who has no family and nowhere to go.” He said the facility was part of the TLF’s broader programme to find homes for homeless elderly people.
“We don’t want to see any old people on the streets anymore.”
The launch was attended by Gauteng social development MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, who said that her department would support the newly opened facility.
“I decided to attend the opening after I saw vulnerable elderly people and people with disabilities living in terrible conditions during a previous visit to a shelter in Pretoria,” she said.
“The homeless elderly need our care and love,” said TLF CEO Wilna de Beer. De Beer believed that most homeless people in Pretoria were economic migrants who come to the city desperately looking for work.
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“During the lockdown, shelters for homeless people faced an uphill struggle. Homeless people with no family support in the city had nowhere to go.”
One of the shelter’s beneficiaries, Tente Sedunedi (65), said he was excited to finally have a place to call home.
“I feel alright because I now have a place to stay.”
People would start living at the facility as from Thursday, according to the TLF.
Photo: Ron Sibiya
Photo: Ron Sibiya
Photo: Ron Sibiya
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