Please, help! U-Turn Homeless Ministries asks for donations to help people survive rainy season

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Steven Underwood of U-Turn Homeless Ministries.

Listen below: 

With heavy rains drenching Cape Town on Wednesday, 25 June, and more wet weather forecasted throughout the week, local non-profit U-Turn Homeless Ministries has stepped in to provide urgent support.

U-Turn’s Claremont facility — normally accommodating 25 to 30 people — has expanded its capacity to house around 70 individuals and activated emergency shelter protocols to help walk-ins seeking refuge from the cold and rain.

In addition, U-Turn is collaborating with a church in Kenilworth to offer temporary shelter for 30 people, available until Saturday, June 28.

How you can help:

Members of the public are encouraged to assist by donating essential items or making a financial contribution.

Urgently needed items include:

• Blankets

• Yoga mats or sleeping pads

• Non-perishable foods (canned goods, rice, pasta)

• Stewing meat

• Tea, coffee, and sugar

• Long-life milk (shelf-stable, no refrigeration needed)

• Toilet paper

• Second-hand clothing (preferably men's sizes S–M)

Drop-off details:

Donations can be delivered to U-Turn’s Head Office at 155 Second Avenue, Kenilworth:

• Wednesday to Friday (June 25–27): 8:30 am – 9:00 pm

• Saturday (June 28): 8 am – 12 pm

To make a financial donation, visit: homeless.org.za/donate.

Your support can help keep someone warm, fed, and safe this winter.

"One of the struggles living on the streets is that you're actually not welcome in any space, you're being moved by security, police, and business owners who don't want you there. So, when it's raining like this, you've just got nowhere to go. Our homeless service centres provide warmth and meals..."

- Steven Underwood, U-Turn Homeless Ministries

"Our shelters are always full and we're always having to turn people away..."

- Steven Underwood, U-Turn Homeless Ministries

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.