Put yourself in their shoes for one night

Durban residents are invited to take on the challenge of experiencing a first-hand view of life on the pavement for one night.

Durban - From corporate bigwigs and local celebs to surfers and youth groups, everyone is invited to take on the challenge of experiencing a first-hand view of life on the pavement for one night - at next week’s I Dare2Care Sleep Out around the City Hall precinct in Durban.

I Care;s general manager, Ann Slatter, is calling on all to Durbanites to take on her dare to cuddle down on some cardboard and spend the night on the street.

Speaking to The Independent on Saturday on Wednesday, Slatter highlighted that although their organisation’s core focus is children on the street, the I Dare2Care Sleep Out event is to benefit both homeless adults and children in partnership with eThekwini Municipality and the Denis Hurley Centre.

“We want to raise awareness regarding the plight of the homeless and invite the public to spend the night on the street. We would also like to see businesses joining in and challenging other businesses to see who can raise the most,” said Slatter.

Each participant at the Sleep Out is asked to get sponsors and to raise a minimum of R100.

“We are looking for a relaxed vibe and some homeless people will be joining us, so please bring an extra hot dog and perhaps a pack of cards to share. You are also welcome to bring a guitar or musical instrument, although no loud music,” she said, highlighting that no feeding schemes will be allowed at the event.

Slatter said that there are far more homeless adults than children on the city’s streets, the majority of which are men.

“They come to the city to find work and to send money home. It’s a responsibility issue. Other reasons behind homelessness can be an altercation with family, substance abuse or no ID document.”

There will also be an information hub for the homeless set up for the evening, including the Denis Hurley Centre Clinic, Home Affairs, IEC, RAUF (Refocus and Upliftment Foundation), Sanzaf (SA National Zakah Fund) for skills development and the department of social development.

I Care’s primary task is to help children on the street, including those who have moved from glue-sniffing to whoonga addiction which involves far more complex issues.

“We know around 30 children on the streets who have graduated to whoonga.

“Getting the next fix and hustling for the next fix are very necessary and because these children no longer come to the centre, we have taken our programme to them in Albert Park,” said Slatter.

Twice a week, the centre offers an outreach service offering art and counselling.

“Some of these children are fearful to come to the outreach worker or even engaging with the outreach worker as they are involved in the sale of drugs for dealers. They are then guaranteed to get their next fix. They are also unable to settle with the daily routine of the programme at the the centre.”

She added that withdrawal symptoms from whoonga are “very severe” and include extreme stomach and body pains as well as a terrible skin itch.

“The department of health has a wonderful outpatient detox programme and we make every attempt to try and encourage them to detox,” she said.

She urged the public not to give either money or food to street children at traffic intersections.

“I know it can pull at a person’s heartstrings, but giving these children a few coins is enabling them to stay there for one more day and enables them to put more money into the drug kitty.

“You are enabling them to stay on the street and to not get the necessary help,” said Slatter. She added that when the children do not get food or money, they then turn to the NGO’s where they can get the correct interventions.

The I Dare2Care Sleep Out starts at 5pm on Friday May 20 at the precinct around Durban City Hall. Every entrant will receive a beanie, which can be donated at the end of the sleep out and any blankets or jackets can be dropped in a box at the event. Registration can be done online, via fax or sms and there will be a late registration desk in Church Walk.

For more information go to www.icare.co.za

Independent on Saturday