Join our mission to equip people with skills to overcome homelessness
“The leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations”
– Revelation 22:2
What is the
Challenge of Homelessness?
South Africans face one of the worst unemployment rates globally. Our youth are growing up in communities with limited opportunities for education and future employment, and many of our youth turn to gangs and addiction. This puts many on to the streets or at risk of homelessness.
The longer someone remains homeless the harder it is for them to forge a pathway out of homelessness. And it costs less to give someone a future, than it costs to maintain someone on the street.
A 2019 study into the cost of homelessness in Cape Town found:
Homeless in Cape Town
%
Experience Chronic Homelessness
Average years on the street
Our Exco Members
Leading our vision with dedication and expertise
Chief Executive Officer
Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt
Chief Business Development Manager
Jonathan Hopkins
Chief Financial Officer
Aldrin Brooks
Chief Operations Officer
Chris Dippenaar
Chief Programme Officer
Lise-Mari Van Den Dool
How do you overcome
Homelessness?
We exist to create an effective life change pathway accessible to every person experiencing homelessness.
Over the last 25 years, we have crafted an innovative skills based programme designed by a multidisciplinary team of Occupational Therapists, Social workers, homeless support workers, counsellors, trainers and life coaches.
The programme is Christian faith based, with long term results for rehabilitation and reintegration.
Phase 1 –
Homeless Support Centre
People access basic needs such as meals, clothing and ablutions through vouchers, removing money from the streets.
Phase 2 –
Rehabilitation
When ready, people access therapy and rehabilitation, with shelter. U-turn has a 70% successful rehabilitation rate.
Phase 3 –
Work-Readiness
Phase 3 Champions access work opportunities at U-turn social enterprises, skills training and ongoing therapy.
Phase 4 – Independent
Employment
Champions securing open-labor work and join a peer-led support group. 80% of graduates remain employed and sober.
Our Impact
Our programme is a patient rehabilitation and skills development. On average it takes two years for Champions on our Phase 3 Work-Readiness progamme to graduate into independent, open-labor market employment.
6 months after graduating, we follow up with our graduates, below are results from the programme’s impact for the last 5 years…
%
Remain Sober
%
Remain Employed
%
Remain Housed
#ThisIsWorking
U-turn runs social enterprises providing over 150 champions on Phase 3 Work-Readiness with work opportunities, on-the-job training, stipends, shelter, food, transport, life skills, therapy and relapse prevention.
Champions learn retail skills, endemic gardening, building and maintenance, or web development and coding.
By supporting these businesses, you help to get South Africa working.
Mi-change Vouchers
Homeless vouchers providing services, support and rehabilitation.
See Michange.org
Charity Shops
Preloved clothing and goods sold in carefully styled thrift stores (and one vintage bus)
See our secondhand shops
Connect Solutions
Digital consultancy agency offering web development and Salesforce solutions.
See ConnectSolutions.org.za
LivingRoots
Endemic nursery and gardening service based in Claremont, Cape Town.
See LivingRoots.co.za