Hope for the Homeless
"To see commitment to the poor only in terms of social issues is not enough," says Gustav Gutierrez
OP. The Christian witness to the resurrection is Life - Poverty is death. Theology is a hermeneutic
of hope and hope is a gift which must be received. Poor people need to say to society we exist.
And that is what the Sisters of Mercy seek to do amidst the homeless people of Johannesburg. We
exist and we need hope.
One of the saddest aspects of the glorious breakthrough to democracy in our country is the number
of people who have been rendered homeless especially in the cities.
Around 1994, people from rural areas flocked to the cities to seek employment and so be able to
create a better life promised for all. Johannesburg known as Egoli (city of gold) was the most
popular place for people to come looking for work. But for many unfortunately there was no work
and few facilities to improve the skills necessary for finding work. As hope began to fade thousands
had no option but to add themselves to the growing number of people sleeping under bridges and at
bus shelters, on park benches and even on pavements.
Homeless people on the streets of Johannesburg
The Sisters of Mercy who for years had provided
soup kitchens for people in need now heard the
call of a new challenge - to provide safe
temporary transitional accommodation and skills
training facilities to the homeless people in the
area. Two Sisters visited USA and spent time
viewing the excellent work in social housing
being done by the Sisters of Mercy of California,
the decision was taken to find a suitable building
for use as a night shelter. Providentially the
parish hall which is next door to Saint
Catherine's Convent in Rosebank became
available for purchase and with no money but with the usual determination, the funds were acquired
and the hall was prepared as a night shelter. When the Solidarity Fund was set up by the Irish
provinces very substantial donations came our way and today the facilities, though modest, meet
the needs of 100 people every night. Goal Ireland, Electric Aid Ireland and many charitable groups,
families and friends also provided assistance and the people can now avail themselves of meals,
laundry and ablution facilities as well as skills training and modest recreational opportunities.
The Provincial Housing Board gave a once-off grant towards the costs and we are happy to relate
now that the Department of Social Services has taken the project on board with an annual subsidy
which part pays the costs. And in true mercy fashion we work closely with the Society of St Vincent
de Paul which holds its meeting at the hall every Tuesday and contributes blankets, food and a host
of other essentials in kind. The Bishops Lenten Campaign is another source of funding while the
Mercy Schools and Dominican Sisters make regular contributions to the on going life of the shelter.
Local business too and the local church forums (ecumenical) have also taken the project to heart
while many schools send their students to do community service at the Centre. A Board of
Management headed by the Vice Principal of St Matthews School Soweto sees to the ongoing
welfare and development of the project. In all their planning and their efforts they take courage and
guidance from the Catherine's inspiration and good common sense.
"The Lord and Master of our house and home is a faithful provider. Let us never desire more than
enough. He will give us that and a blessing & and again.. Since there is little wrong that can be
rectified or good that can be accomplished without some use of money let us use very wisely
whatever money we have." Catherine McAuley
One of the special gifts of God to the project has been the involvement of staff that has been
employed. Since becoming project manager Jacob Modise has been ordained as a permanent
Deacon and he brings to the care of the needy a special gift of kindness, a great love for our
Blessed lady and for Catherine McAuley and his ministry to the people is always in the spirit of
peace friendliness and a readiness to listen. Out of the experience in Immaculata Hall two more
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shelters have been opened by the Sisters of Mercy in Johannesburg with ministry adapted to the
needs of each.
The late Bishop Orsmond invited the Sisters to open a shelter in the Inner City at 98 Kerk Street, a
diocesan property which formerly housed the Catholic Bookshop and offices. Some urgent help was
needed for the many people who were sleeping on the pavement in the area. Some of these were
small time hawkers who tried to sell by day and then slept
beside their goods at night.
A hawker outside Strabane Mercy Centre
After renovations the building was able to give accommodation
to 100 people. In the centenary year of the foundation from
Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland the second Mercy shelter
was opened in Johannesburg under the name Strabane Mercy
Centre. In the course of our celebrations we had the special
joy of having two Sisters from Strabane unveil the name over
the door of the new shelter. The local people like to call the
centre 'Strabanee'.
More recently Primedia Talk Radio 702, where one of the talk
show hosts is John Robbie a Dublin man, announced that
Primedia was looking for an NGO group to take over a large
house in Berea and use it for the benefit of Women in
Distress. A long-time friend of Immaculata Hall suggested to
Primedia that they approach the Sisters of Mercy. So it was
that a Mercy Centre was opened in Berea, a suburb just east
of Central Johannesburg. It provides transitional accommodation for forty women, with the aim of
giving them a secure, safe base from which to explore opportunities for counselling and personal
development and regain their confidence in their own talents and self worth and return to their
communities and sustain themselves effectively. Residents drew up the house rules and respect
them as they help to create a friendly supportive community at Berea Mercy Centre.
In total 230 people are accommodated each night in the Mercy Shelters Johannesburg and daily
cooked meals are available. The 'outreach' from Strabane Centre is the Soweto Feeding Scheme for
600 families each month and in Rosebank 200 - 300 people who cannot be accommodated receive a
full cooked meal and also have use of ablution and laundry facilities.
Laundry service for people living on the streets
In thanking God for the blessing on our efforts
and acknowledging the great debt of gratitude
which we owe to so many benefactors and coworkers we cannot help thinking about the
countless homeless people in Johannesburg and
in Africa who must still cry silently in the words
of the poor man at the pool of Bethzatha 'I have
no one to help me'
Who will give them the Hope which is Life?
Written by Sr. Evangelist Quinlan RSM
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