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The U-Turn homeless ministry is celebrating 25 years of serving the destitute. Founded in 1997, U-Turn equips individuals and communities with skills to overcome homelessness. They serve poor and needy people in the Western Cape province. There is no doubt that U-turn is making a significant dent on the problem of homelessness in Cape Town.
The end of 2022 saw the launch of U-turn in Johannesburg – the first step towards becoming a truly national organisation. U-turn has refined a four-phase skills development model that meets homeless clients where they are at and walks the complete journey out of homelessness with them. CEO Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt has over 20 years’ experience of community development work as a pastor and leads in their quest to transform and better people’s lives.
Following the realization of skills shortages in South Africa especially amongst individuals who live in the streets, U-Turn launches Living Roots, a green economy social enterprise which is run and managed by formerly homeless people.
The enterprise promotes habitat conservation throughout Cape Town’s increasingly urbanizing landscape as well as creating more awareness on green spaces that can be used to create natural habitat corridors/stepping stones that allows endemic vegetation, birds and insects to cross-pollinate and migrate sustainably despite ongoing urbanization putting pressure on natural wildlife.
Living Roots’ current environmental projects include, the maintenance of endemic communities in Newlands and along the Liesbeeck River and runs the Greening Kits initiative for local improvement districts to green their urban spaces with endemic plants. On this project they have been working closely with Observatory Improvement District (OBSCID).
“As U-Turn, we believe that when a formerly homeless person is provided with vocational skill development, acceptance, mental health care and support, they can transition and adapt to any role in the open labor market and consequently experience a holistic transformation in their well-being”, says Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt, U-Turn CEO.
About U-Turn
U-Turn equips people and communities with skills to overcome homelessness. The organization has crafted an innovative skills based programme designed by a multidisciplinary team of Social workers, homeless support workers, Occupational therapists, counselors, trainers and life coaches. The programme has long term results for rehabilitation and reintegration. Six months after graduating from the programme, more than 80% of participants remain sober and employed.
For more information, visit homeless.org.za
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Date published: 12/04/2023
Feature image: CEO Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt
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